{"id":18125,"date":"2026-06-20T13:02:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T13:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/nctc-and-iita-forge-strategic-agribusiness-partnership-to-rehabilitate-ex-combatants\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T16:53:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:53:26","slug":"nctc-and-iita-forge-strategic-agribusiness-partnership-to-rehabilitate-ex-combatants","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/nctc-and-iita-forge-strategic-agribusiness-partnership-to-rehabilitate-ex-combatants\/","title":{"rendered":"NCTC and IITA forge strategic agribusiness partnership to rehabilitate ex-combatants"},"content":{"rendered":"Abuja, Nig\u00e9ria\n
\nIn a landmark move to tackle the drivers of violent extremism, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and IITA-CGIAR has announced a new partnership to pilot a rehabilitation and reintegration model for former combatants and conflict-affected communities. Convened at the NCTC Conference Hall, the high-level meeting brought together key donors, international organizations, and technical experts to align on an agribusiness-led approach that combines vocational training, financial inclusion and peacebuilding.\n\n\"\"<\/strong>\n\nHighlights<\/strong> during the meeting focused on key areas like:<\/strong>\n
    \n \t
  • Ambitious Impact Targets: <\/em><\/strong>Rollout in Zamfara and Gombe States, aiming to empower 50,000 beneficiaries through the creation of 5,000 agribusinesses and a projected 60% boost in household incomes.<\/li>\n \t
  • Broad Donor Support: <\/em><\/strong>The Czech Republic, European Union, International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Zamfara State Government pledged technical and financial backing, underscoring strong international confidence in the model.<\/li>\n \t
  • Technical Working Group (TWG): <\/em><\/strong>A multi-stakeholder consortium\u2014including NCTC, IITA-CGIAR, state authorities, and donor representatives\u2014will steer design, risk mapping, and monitoring frameworks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\"\"\n\nFollowing discussions, the stakeholders agreed on the n<\/strong>ext <\/strong>s<\/strong>teps<\/strong> towards implementation:<\/strong><\/strong>\n
      \n \t
    • \n
        \n \t
      1. MoU signing on<\/strong>\u00a030 May 2025<\/strong> to formalize the agribusiness and livelihood partnership.<\/li>\n \t
      2. Technical Design\u00a0<\/strong>Session\u00a0<\/strong>with IOM and partners; a technical session will be organized, followed by detailed phase-wise planning after 30 May 2025.<\/li>\n \t
      3. Governor-Level\u00a0<\/strong>Engagement\u00a0<\/strong>through\u00a0the Nigerian Governors\u2019 Forum (NGF), and continued community outreach via the National Orientation Agency (NOA).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        \"Major
        Major General A. G. Laka, National Coordinator, NCTC, Prakash Kant Silwal, Principal Specialist, IITA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\u201cBy leveraging agriculture as a vehicle for economic opportunity and social cohesion, we can break the cycle of re-radicalization,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>said Major General A. G. Laka, National Coordinator of NCTC.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThis partnership exemplifies how coordinated, locally-led solutions can deliver lasting peace and stability.\u201d\n\nPrakash Kant Silwal, IITA Principal Specialist on the rehabilitation and reintegration initiative, said, \u201cOur collaborative model is designed to be replicable across the region. With robust monitoring and strong community buy-in, we will demonstrate that sustainable reintegration is both feasible and transformative.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe government has already made significant strides in reducing insecurity,\u201d\u00a0added\u00a0Captain Palash Kawsher, IITA Security Risk Management Expert.\u00a0\u201cNow, together with NCTC, we will introduce a truly non-kinetic approach\u2014mobilizing private sector partners and engaging communities directly\u2014to ensure sustainable reintegration and resilience.\u201d\n\n
        \"(L-R)
        (L-R) Ambassador Mairo Musa Abbas, Director-PCVE, Major General A. G. Laka, National Coordinator, NCTC, Prakash Kant Silwal, Principal Specialist, IITA, Captain Palash Kawsher, Security Risk Management Expert IITA, Dr Ayoade Adetoye, Advisor, IITA, Ms Adeniyi Ronke,Consultant IITA.<\/figcaption><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        In a landmark move to tackle the drivers of violent extremism, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) and IITA-CGIAR has announced a new partnership to pilot a rehabilitation and reintegration model for former combatants and conflict-affected 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