Agency
A non-governmental organisation, Community Dialogue Committee on Wednesday, inaugurated Gender-Based Violence prevention and response clubs in 40 female schools in Sokoto State.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that CDC, supported by Global Rights, the Kuka Centre and others, selected participating schools from Gagi, Durbawa, Tsaki, and Malamawa communities in Sokoto South and Kware local government areas.
In his address, the CDC Chairman, Alhaji Sani Umar-jabbi, said that the initiative was to provide early warnings, and referral pathways and to break the silence on GBV happening in the school environment.
Umar-jabbi, who is also the District Head of Gagi in Sokoto South Local Government Area, said school principals, as well as guardian and counselling teachers, were involved in the clubs.
He highlighted that the clubs would work toward improving communication, and protecting students against all forms of abuses and GBV in the school system.
He said the selected schools comprised those under the Sokoto State Female Education Board, Teachers Service Board, and Arabic and Islamic Education Board.
According to him, the present training is to impart knowledge and clear cultural beliefs, traditions, as well as misconceptions about GBV in society.
Umar-jabbi stressed that the initiative would also strengthen the implementation of the Child Protect Law and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law enacted in the state.
Mr Edosa Oviawe, the Programme Manager of Global Rights, said the initiative is in the right direction of stemming the occurrences of GBV in communities.
Oviawe said Global Rights is fully committed to supporting activities on GBV awareness and ways to tackle the menace, noting that school clubs would serve as good hubs and starting points for eliminating GBV.
He urged government agencies to step down the training to other schools for students to benefit, as cases of GBV were being recorded at all levels.
Alhaji Abdullahi Marafa, the Director of research and Statistics in the state’s Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, described the training and inauguration as landmark achievements in tackling GBV in school communities.
Marafa reiterated the state government’s commitment to uplifting education standards in the state, noting that “Gov. Ahmad Aliyu has prioritised the education sector, which is among the nine-point agenda of his administration.”
The director led participants on question and answer sessions, while the event witnessed lecture presentations and experience sharing on GBV issues.
NAN
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