By Omoniyi David
An Abuja-based non-governmental organization, Helpline Social Support Initiative (HSSI), has unveiled a two-year project aimed at strengthening the cultural rights of the Original Inhabitants (OIs), of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, HSSI Project Manager, Mr. Onoja Arome, said the initiative seeks to preserve the cultural heritage of the indigenous communities in the FCT and empower them economically.
Supported by the MacArthur Foundation through the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), the project is designed to train 100 vulnerable women and youths in the production of traditional attire.
According to Arome, the goal is to promote cultural identity and create job opportunities through skills acquisition in arts and crafts.
“The project is also geared towards advocating for fair resettlement and compensation of OIs whose ancestral lands have been acquired or encroached upon without adequate compensation,” Arome stated. “Beyond empowerment, we want to restore their voice and visibility as a people whose cultural presence is fading fast.”
Arome noted that the 1976 decree establishing the FCT displaced many indigenous people, leading to the loss of farmlands, economic trees, and traditional livelihoods, resulting in increased unemployment and cultural erosion among the OIs.
He recalled that the first phase of the project, launched in 2021 with support from the MacArthur Foundation, trained 200 women and youth, many of whom are now thriving entrepreneurs in traditional attire production.
As part of awareness efforts, 39 cultural jingles in indigenous languages were produced and aired, and advocacy visits were made to the Department of Resettlement and Compensation.
“With this second phase now underway, we are determined to build on the achievements of the first,” Arome said. “We call on all stakeholders; government, civil society, and the private sector, to support this noble cause. Let us preserve the cultural identity of the FCT’s original inhabitants and ensure a better future for coming generations.”
The project is expected to run for 18 months, focusing on economic empowerment, cultural revival, and rights-based advocacy.
