•UNDP tells story of hope, family and home
By Johnson Adebowale
Violence, particularly by the Boko Haram insurgency, has displaced millions of people and created a massive humanitarian crisis, leading to crisis groups seeking to help the Nigerian government by shedding new light on the country’s security challenges and de-escalating risks and tension.
To this end, an awareness campaign among others to combat the monster was recently staged when the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized a private screening of a documentary film, “Ngannaram: The Homecoming”, directed by Nigerian award-winning filmmaker, Joel ‘Kachi Benson, in Lagos.
The film provided insight based on a first-hand account into the lives of a community that suffered displacement as a result of the Boko Haram conflict and highlighted the visionary and innovative approach of the Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF), a groundbreaking programme that aims to restore lives with dignity and bring a sense of normalcy back to people facing conflict.
“Ngannaram: The Homecoming” is centred around three residents of the Ngarannam village: Amina, Falmata and Hassan. The documentary chronicles a touching story of struggle, loss and fear as it follows their journey right from the very first terror attack on their village in 2015 that launched their world into disarray to the 2022 intervention programme engineered by UNDP.
After losing everything following an attack by Boko Haram, residents of Ngarannam, a small community in northeast Nigeria, now have a chance to rebuild their homes and lives and live up to the full potential of their aspirations beyond life in displacement camps. A return to Ngarannam signifies hope for many who are displaced by circumstances beyond their control.
UNDP, with support from the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Borno State Government, the European Union, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom, set out to tackle the problem of displacement and conflict by taking an unprecedented approach to address the challenge: they want to rebuild the entire town of Ngannaram from the rubble left behind following the attack by the insurgents.
The story culminated in the production of both an emotionally moving documentary and an immersive virtual reality film set to help viewers experience life in a camp for people who have been displaced and watch the incredible transformation of their village.
“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 reach others to continue to support more work like this,” remarked Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, as he expressed gratitude for the general effects of the collaboration.
Mohamed Yahya, resident for UNDP Nigeria, said: “Ngannaram 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. “Ngannaram: 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.”
The architectural designs created by Nigerian architect, Tosin Oshinowo, include 864 new homes, a school, a hospital, a police outpost to keep the village secure and a marketplace to provide ways for the returning families to make a living. This is the first time a project of this scale will be tried in the African region.
Joel ‘Kachi Benson, whose work has been featured in major film festivals around the world, is known as the first Nigerian director to use virtual reality technology for storytelling and sheds more light on it: “The bulk of my work is actually around documenting conflicts and what I am drawn to is the resilience and the strength of the people and not the tragedy. “Ngannaram: The Homecoming” is a story of hope, family and home.
“On the night we escaped, I wondered if I would ever walk along the fields I played in as a child and if things would ever go back to the way they were. After living in a camp for almost a decade, I hope our story inspires others not to give up on their dreams of returning home some day,” shared Amina Modu, 19, who is one of the main characters of the film.
Mr. Yahya added: “We are grateful to the Borno State government and our partners for their unwavering support. Without the generosity of our donors, we would not have been able to undertake the rebuilding of a community of this scale and significance in such a short time. The story of Ngannaram as depicted in the film gives people hope that they too can be part of solutions that prioritize their needs and ambitions. We now have a proof of concept that provides us with the blueprint to scale up and replicate the same work in other affected regions.”
