Nasarawa committed to ending all forms of GBV – Silifat Sule

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Oboh Linus, Lafia

The wife of Nasarawa State Governor, Hajiya Silifat Sule says the State Government through the Ministry for Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services has taken deliberate and holistic steps to end gender based violence (GBV) in Nasarawa State.

Silifat Sule said this in Lafia at the Interfaith and Cultural Leaders Dialogue on Preventing Gender- Based Violence, organised by Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF).

Hajiya Sule, represented by Mrs Zainab Ahmed, former Secretary to the state Government noted that the Nasarawa state was committed to using relevant laws and resources available to make Nasarawa GBV-free state.

She said that the state had renovated a shelter home for survivors to provide them a safe haven for recovery, and also established a GBV situation room at the Ministry to track and analyse data from across the state.

“A significant milestone is the memorandum of understanding signed with Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital now FULafia Teaching Hospital enabling free treatment of GBV survivors,” she said.

She, therefore called on the parents, traditional and religious leaders to join hands in the fight against all forms of GBV, noting that the first against GBV was a collective one and should not be left for the Government alone.

On her part, Mrs Hauwa Jugbo, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services ascribed GBV to a human rights issue and development challenge that demands sustained and coordinated actions.

“The impact of GBV on individuals families and communities is profound, Survivors suffered not only physical injury but also trauma, social stigma, and economic disempowerment.

“Families are torn apart, communities live in fear and silence, GBV remains a major barrier to gender inequality, development, and the full participation of women and girls in society,” she said.

Earlier speaking, Dorothy Njemanze, Executive Director, Dorothy of DNF said the interfaith and cultural dialogue was a non-confrontational dialogue to remind various stakeholders of their influence and need to use them to help prevent GBV.

She noted that interfaith and cultural leaders’ dialogue on prevention of GBV is a continuation of the Gate-keeper to Bystanders Strengthening SGBV Prevention using community Engagement project, with support from Ford Foundation.

Njemanze emphasised the prevention of GBV, stating that
sexual and gender based violence interferes with every other kind of existing violence, and it claims lives by the day and urged government to invest more in the access to justice system.

“You cannot build prevention strategies without listening to those who have survived harm
and you cannot respond effectively if you never disrupt the beliefs and practices that make that harm possible in the first place.

“GBV is the reason why the economy is not thriving, people are depriving women of working, and children are being forced into labour instead of sending them to school,’ she said.

She urged religious leaders and traditional rulers to use their platforms and palaces to amplify the parts of their culture and faith that protect life and end GBV.

Some participants who spoke at the event include the Emir of Lafia, Justice Side Bage, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Musa, Lafia District Head, representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria and JNI, Peter Esla, and Aliyu Shaibi pledged their commitments to ending GBV.