NGO engages Kuje youth on combating SGBV

By Stanley Onyekwere

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG), has reached out to youth, especially girls and other stakeholders, in Kuje Area Council of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to help intensify the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the society.

It was gathered that over 120 traditional rulers, youth and women  were engaged on talks about the various forms of SGBV and how to deal decisively with the menace, at a town hall meeting, the NGO organised, in collaboration with the Girls Pride Foundation, in the council.

Speaking, the AEIG’s Executive Director, Mrs. Abiodun Essiet, explained that the engagement was in line with the two year MacArthur Foundation’s support initiative for the promotion of the rights of FCT Original Inhabitants, aimed at strengthening FCT traditional institution, so as to effectively combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the Territory.

She added that the town hall meetings, is the NGO’s seventh held across the six area councils of the FCT, to sensitise and create awareness about the various forms of SGBV in FCT communities.

According to her, through the engagement, it is hoped that it can break the culture of silence around the menace, as there is no community that doesn’t any SGBV, hence raising awareness about the scourge.

She adds: “We are already working with different traditional rulers and communities to create an action plan, to effectively address SGBV within their domains. So we have done that, and we will be sharing the report soon”.

Earlier, in her presentation, an official of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) , Akinlade Justina, who represented the  Director-General of the Agency, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi, commended AEIG for its tireless effort in pioneering community dialogues and intervention programmes geared towards the protection and prevention of SGBV in communities. 

She explains: “The fight against SGBV requires a multi sectoral approach and this we can achieve through regular Dialogues and Town Hall meetings like this, increased sensitisation and awareness especially in Schools, places of worship, and Communities. 

“The Agency hopes that this town hall meeting will avail us all the opportunity to close the identified gaps and further strengthen our collaborations and commitments in the fight against Sexual and Gender Based violence”.

On his part, a District Head, Alh. Shuaibu Pada, who represented the Gomo of Kuje, the highest paramount chief in Kuje Area Council, said reported SGBV cases in Kuje communities are being handled within the  capacity of various traditional leaders, even as he called for more support to widen and strengthen  the traditional justice system.