"Kebbi AG's Office Holds Stakeholder Meeting on Gender-Based Violence"

By Umar Faruk, Birnin Kebbi

Birnin Kebbi - The Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Junaidu Bello Mashal PhD, in collaboration with the Gender-Based Violence Unit, headed by Barrister Zainab Muhammad Jabbo, organized a one-day sensitization workshop on gender-based violence (GBV) for critical stakeholders. Held at Azbir Hotel on Monday, the workshop brought together judges, lawyers, civil society organizations, journalists, religious leaders, and government agencies to discuss gaps and successes in preventing and combating GBV cases.

The Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Justice, Kebbi State, Barrister Aishatu Abbas's welcome remarks were presented by the Permanent Secretary of the Law Reform Commission, Barrister Ahmed Rufi'u. Abbas urged participants to contribute meaningfully and offer advice on the way forward in fighting and preventing GBV and rape cases across the state's 21 local government areas, wishing them fruitful deliberations.

Resource person Mr. Shanwil Hassan delivered a lecture on GBV, highlighting the importance of addressing the issue. Dr. Sheikh Ismail Chindo Gotomo also delivered a lecture on GBV from an Islamic perspective, quoting Islamic scholars and the book of Sheikh Abdullahi Fodiyo. "Islamic teachings do not allow violence and harming anyone," he emphasized, highlighting the need for collective effort to prevent GBV.

Stakeholders, including FIDA, FOMWAN, NAPTIP, and NBA, shared goodwill messages, highlighting their achievements and challenges in fighting and preventing GBV.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Barrister Garba Lawal Hudu, offered a vote of thanks, appreciating participants and keynote speakers for their contributions. "On behalf of the ministry, we thank everyone and pray for a safe journey back to your various destinations," he said. "We look forward to implementing the gaps identified and building on our achievements."

The workshop's objective was to identify gaps and successes in addressing GBV, and participants pledged to work together to combat the issue. The presence of critical stakeholders, including traditional rulers, policymakers, and NGO representatives, marked a significant step towards addressing GBV in Kebbi State.