The 16-day activism on Gender-based Violence, a global annual event to fight GBV has commenced with the wife of the State Governor, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu staging a,” Walk away campaign.”.
Myriad of NGOs, Civil Society’Groups, students and other stakeholders joined Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu to raise awareness against, ‘Gender Based Violence .”
The wife of Kebbi State Governor, says ending the gender based violence begins with creating awareness to ensure sure that people know what is right and what is wrong.
” The battle begins with creating awareness so that our people know what is right and what is wrong, ” she averred.
The organiser of the program and proprietor of Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu stated this at the Presidential Banquet Hall in Birnin Kebbi where the Walkaway campaign, to raise awareness against Gender Based Violence, GBV was held. .
Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, who is also a board member of the Union for International Cancer Control and the Chairperson of First ladies Against Cancer called for concerted efforts to change the mindset of the people from doing what is wrong against women and children .
“I want you to understand that there are many forms of abuse, abuse does not mean taking your hand and beating somebody or inflicting injuries, these are the extreme forms,” the governor’s wife noted.
She thanked her husband, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his doggedness and selfless determination in making sure that the bills become laws .
“He is willing to sign it into law to make sure that it’s part of our laws in the state and we will see that within a very short time .
” However, passage is one thing and implementation is another thing. Over 80 percent of people in Nigeria reside in rural areas, they don’t know about laws, they are governed by their own laws, laws of the society, laws of their religion or laws of their culture.
“And these laws that we have in the justice system do not mean so much to them, but I do agree that we need to have a saner society where these laws form the foundation of giving access to justice for our people, that’s why we fought hard to ensure that these laws are there,” she said
Dr. Zainab appreciated the State House of Assembly members,Judiciary ,Security agencies and the media for their unrelenting support for the actualisation of the bills.
She also thanked the Technical Working Group against GVB, Civil Society Groups, NGOs, students and other stakeholders for their participation and support for her campaign.
In their goodwill messages, the State Attorney’General and Commissioner for Justice, Hajiya Ramatu Gulma , Jam’iyar Matan Arewa, National Council for Women Societies,Women Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress, National Human Rghts Commission , State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Nigeria Association of Women journalists (NAWOJ), Special Adviser on Media to the Governor , students from various tertiary institutions of higher learning from across the State all urged people to speak out and educate other members of the society on the need for collective fight against gender based violence.
The speakers pledged their support in the fight against gender based violence and called for the speedy dispensation of justice against culprits.
They also commended the State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and his wife, Dr.Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu for facilitating the passage of the bills.
Earlier, in her remaraks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Development, Hajiya Zara’u Abubakar Wali said the sixteen days of activism against gender based violence was designed to educate the public on gender based violence.
“They are also meant to stress the need for people to act fast, by speaking out and by calling the hotline number provided 08061434873,”she added.
The Walkway campaign against GBV commenced with a road walk from the Emir of Gwandu’s Palace, through Ahmadu Bello way, to Government House, Birnin Kebbi and terminated at at the Presidential Banquet Hall.
