By Daniel Tyokua
Helpline Foundation For The Needy, Abuja, a non governmental organisation has canvassed for a better way to promote socio-economic, political and cultural rights of the Original Inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The foundation which is funded by Macarthur Foundation brought together traditional rulers, women, youth, politicians and other strategic stakeholders across the six Area Councils in FCT to chart away forward on the promotion of their culture.
Giving an insight into the project, President of Helpline Foundation, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu said the initiative marks the beginning of the project of promoting the rights of the original inhabitants of the FCT.
She said the project became necessary as the original inhabitants have been undergoing several forms of marginalization in the FCT.
Ahmadu noted that the project would not succeed without the moral support of Royal Fathers of the Six Area Councils.
She explained that as key stakeholders in the project, it is clear that the outcome of the project if successful must have an undertone of their inputs.
“In line with the overall objective of the CHRICED Project, we have titled our sub-granted project Revamping The Cultural Heritage Of The Original Inhabitants (OIS) Through The Empowerment Of Vulnerable Women And Marginalized Youths Of The OIs And Cultural Preservation.
‘This, we believe will help alleviate poverty and improve livelihood in the line of preserving the cultural repositories of the OIs in FCT among other project activities embedded in the project, as you can see in the handy Project Profile,” she said.
She appreciated the funding organisation; the CHRICED and Macarthur Foundation for taking the initiative to all the original inhabitants to collaborate in other to make their voices heard again in their own land.
