By Tasi’u Hassan
Plan International Nigeria, under its “Girls Out Loud” program has conducted an advocacy walk against gender based violence in the metropolis.
The walk, which is part of the activities marking this year’s 16 days of activism against gender based violence, had over 10 women groups in attendance.
The participants, who took off from the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, stopped over at Abubakar Umar Secretariat, where they were addressed by the state commissioner of Women Affairs and
Child Development, Hajiya Hajara Jibrin Gidado.
The commissioner said her ministry is always alive to its mandate of ensuring that women and children are protected against all forms of violence across the state.
Represented by the director, administration in the ministry, Fatima Ibrahim, who said it is sad that the number of women experiencing different forms of violence keep increasing particularly during Covid-19 pandemic, conflicts and other disasters.
she added that the ministry is ready to continue to collaborate with Plan International and other organizations to put a stop to the menace.
Speaking on behalf of Plan International, the Moderator, Girls Out Loud, Zaynab Muhammad Sabitu, said the program is part of the organization’s effort to ensure that women and girls occupy their rightful place in the society.
Zaynab Sabitu, who said that a report indicates that in their lifetime, one in three women, around 736 million, are subjected to physical or sexual violence an intimate partner or non partner, enjoined members of the public especially those in rural areas to expose cases of violence around them for immediate action.
Representatives of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria, National Council for Women Societies and other women groups, said the event is timely as it gives them the opportunity to voice out their voices to the world, in their efforts to bridge the gap between men and women to curb gender based violence.
Ambulance of the Federal Road Safety Corps was on ground to ensure the safety of the participants, while a band group made the advocacy walks more entertaining.
As authorities and organizations continue to stand against all forms of violence on women and children, it is expected that people will
join hands with them to permanently put an end to the societal abuse.
