Gombe Commits To Zero Tolerance For Gender Based Violence

 …As Traditional, Religious Leaders Sign Document to End Menace

Gombe State Government has restated its commitments to zero tolerance for Gender Based Violence (GBV) across the state.

This was made known during a stakeholders town hall meeting organized by the office of the first lady, Hajiya Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya in Gombe.

She said the strong political will of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the state’s legislature gave Gombe State an upper hand for stronger collaboration with donor agencies to ensure GBV is completely dealt with to zero level in the state.

“Out of his concern for the protection of children, women and the vulnerables against gender based violence, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has in 2022 signed into law, the Child Protection Law and the VAPP law passed by the state’s House of Assembly. This commitments made Gombe secured special spot in national and international spheres especially in the fight against GBV. This made Gombe to be selected among six pilot states program in Nigeria”.

The first lady called on traditional and religious leaders to ensure perpetrators of gender based violence in their areas are exposed and made to face the full wrath of the law, noting that Gombe State has no room for GBV monsters.

She urged all stakeholders, especially parents and community leaders to key into the campaign, to ensure children, women and ladies are safe in schools, parks markets and everywhere.

While encouraging parents, guardians and caregivers to report issues of gender based violence to relevant authorities, the first lady noted that the Social Welfare Department of the state’s ministry for women affairs and social welfare is fully equipped to attend to such cases.

The first lady commended 11 Gender Based Violence survivors who voluntary presented themselves during the meeting, to encourage others victims of GBV to speak up.

In their submissions, the representative of the Senior District Head of Gombe Alhaji Sammani Bappah who spoke on behalf of the traditional institution, the representatives of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Alhaji Saleh Ɗanburam and that of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Mercy Francis, expressed full support against gender based violence, noting that rape, adultery and fornication have no place in both Islam, Christianity and norms and values of Gombe people.

While assuring of full support to the GBV campaign, the leaders however charged parents to be watchful of their children, their whereabouts, friends and those they relate with.

The trio who signed the binding document shortly after oath of commitments on behalf of the religious and traditional leaders across the state to demonstrate their resolve towards zero tolerance for gender based violence, assured to enlight their subjects on the cultural and religious prohibition of GBV.

In their separate goodwill messages, the Speaker Gombe State House of Assembly Honourable Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo represented by the majority Leader Yerima Ladan Gaule and the Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs Hon Gabriel Galadima, stressed the house commitments to ensuring better laws and policies are provided in Gombe State for the protection of women and children against all sorts of violence.

Similarly speaking on behalf of the wives of the 11 local government chairmen, the wife to Balanga local government chairman Hajiya Bilkisu Ibrahim Salisu commended the first lady’s commitment and the political will of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in prioritizing women, assuring of their resolve to step down the campaign to their local government areas.

In their paper presentations on Gender Based Violence Hajiya Halima Mahdi who spoke on GBV, its forms, socio-cultural dimensions and its effects, as well as Mrs Sheba Samuel, who spoke on “Community Advocacy in Fighting Against GBV”  said stakeholders must work together against socio-cultural practices that promote GBV in families and communities.

The resource persons who call for equal treatment between boys and girls, said denial to education, early marriage and relegation of the girl child to home chores and inferior community roles are all forms of gender based violence.

They called for proper education and awareness of community members on GBV, noting that effective communication will go a long way in Fighting the menace.

They appealed on government and other stakeholders to prioritize poverty eradication and economic empowerment for self reliance, arguing that poverty is one of the major factors that exposed a lot of girls to GBV.

Also speaking, the Speaker, Gombe State Children Parliament, Hon Ramlat Kasim Ahmad, commended the state House of Assembly and Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for passing and signing the VAPP and child protection bills into law, a development she said guaranteed protection of their rights and welfare to the fullest.