By SOLOMON NDA-ISAIAH
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), organized a private screening of a documentary film that shines light on the story of hopefulness by a community in Northeast Nigeria.
The documentary titled ‘Ngannaram: The Homecoming’ is based on a first hand account of a community that suffered displacement as a result of the Boko Haram conflict was directed by a Nigerian award-winning filmmaker, Joel ‘Kachi Benson at the Alliance Française in Lagos, Nigeria.
Ngannaram: The Homecoming chronicles a touching story of struggle, loss and fear.
The UNDP alongside support from the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Borno State Government, the European Union, Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom – set out to tackle the problem of displacement and conflict by taking an unprecedented approach to address the challenge.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum expressed gratitude for the collaboration. He said “Borno has gone through a lot of internal and external turmoil over the last decade.
The only way to prevent the next generation from joining the extremists is to make sure that many villages are stabilized, allowing people to return and use their agricultural lands, which will allow them to earn their living.
That is why, I’m glad UNDP has joined hands with us in giving the next generation renewed hope, and by helping us to reach others to continue to support more work like this.”
Speaking on the documentary, UNDP’s resident representative for Nigeria said “Ngrarannam offers us an opportunity to rethink our work and how we can leverage Nigerian talent and homegrown ideas to address the challenges of displacement and other development issues.
Through this film, we are telling a powerful story of people who are normally not visible in a dignified manner. Nagarannam:
The Homecoming is about people who are rising above their circumstances and willing to collectively be part of a journey that shifts the trajectory of their future – it is the unbeatable power of people when they are part of something that is meaningful.”
