Conduct your activities professionally to contribute effectively to ending GBV in the state. I on both national and international donor agencies to support credible GBV workers and partners in the fight against gender-based violence.
— Asmau Muhammad Iganus
By Aliyu Gerengi, Gombe,
The Gombe State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has concluded its 16-day activism against gender-based violence (GBV) with a stakeholders’ meeting involving gender desk officers and representatives from all 11 local government areas of the state.
Representing the First Lady of Gombe State, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Asma’u Mohammed Iganus, urged stakeholders to conduct their activities professionally to contribute effectively to ending GBV in the state. She called on both national and international donor agencies to support credible GBV workers and partners in the fight against gender-based violence.
The Commissioner commended the cooperation of security agencies, ministry staff, journalists, and others who contributed to the campaign’s success, emphasizing the need for vigilance and professionalism.
In his welcome address, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Modi Shefidi, highlighted the purpose of the gathering: identifying GBV challenges and preparing for actionable solutions.
Speaking at the event, Hauwa Adamu Saraki, President of the National Association of Women Society, and Jerry Sani, Secretary of the Technical Working Group on Gender Violence, stressed that advocacy for GBV prevention should be a continuous effort, not limited to the 16-day campaign.
Gender desk officers from Nafada, Billiri, Kaltungo, and Gombe, including Musa Abubakar, Mrs. Hannatu Yusuf, Mr. Lawudus Jakson, and Duwa Stehen, called for training and retraining to enhance their effectiveness. They also emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration and creating platforms for interaction among stakeholders.
Micah Joshua, a human rights activist, urged the Ministry to implement special programs, publications, and a dedicated committee to enhance the fight against GBV.
The event culminated in the inauguration of a 17-member committee tasked with driving the fight against GBV and submitting their report by next year.
Participants included representatives from the Police, Civil Defence, human rights organizations, journalists, the National Association of Women Society, and GBV survivors, among others.
