Developing Entrepreneurial Strategy as Trauma Therapy for Displaced Boko Haram Female Victims in Northeastern Nigeria

Abstract: Displacement has become endemic in the ongoing conflict affecting northeastern Nigeria, with women and girls disproportionately impacted by the resulting humanitarian crisis. Many reside in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, such as the Bakassi camp in Maiduguri, where they struggle with psychological trauma, social exclusion, and economic hardship. This research explores the coping mechanisms employed by displaced women and highlights the potential therapeutic benefits of entrepreneurial strategies in facilitating trauma recovery and psychosocial empowerment. The paper argues that while government efforts to hastily return IDPs to their original communities may appear to offer a solution, they often create additional challenges. Most of these women lack the necessary skills and support to manage mental health concerns or secure sustainable livelihoods upon return. Without carefully designed economic empowerment programs that engage high-risk youth in ways that reflect their interests and trauma-related needs, reintegration may inadvertently increase their vulnerability. Government agencies, NGOs, and researchers have paid insufficient attention to the adaptive strategies these women have developed through displacement. Using a qualitative research approach, the study draws on focus group discussions and interviews with female IDPs in Bakassi Camp. Findings reveal that entrepreneurial activities tailored to the women’s capacities and aspirations can serve as effective trauma therapy, tools for empowerment, and participatory pathways to reintegration. The paper concludes by advocating for culturally sensitive, skill-based entrepreneurial mentoring programs as essential components of any long-term solution for women who suffer from trauma caused by insurgency. Keywords: Displacement, Trauma, Coping Strategies, Entrepreneurship, IDPs, Boko Haram, Mental Health, Reintegration