Aisha Buhari tasks governors’ wives on sustained fight against gender based violence
By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Dr Aisha Buhari , the Wife of President Muhamadu Buhari, on Monday called on wives of governors to sustain their commitment to end all forms of on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Nigeria.
Buhari, represented by Rukayyatu Gurin, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Women Affairs, made the call at the 3rd Annual Nigeria Governors’ Wife Conference (NGWF) in Abuja.
The conference takes place annually during the global 16 Days of Activism, a campaign that aims to galvanize action to end gender-based violence around the world.
The theme of the conference was “Awareness, Accountability and Action: Sustaining the states of emergency against sexual and gender based violence.’’
Buhari, who commended wives of governors for their collaborative effort towards ensuring the safety and protection of women and girls from all forms of SGBV, also called on all key institutions to work together to end the gender based violence.
Buhari said that gender-based violence remain a global challenge which required a global response.
She said that in spite the scale of the problem, gender-based violence is preventable, making it essential that they reaffirm their commitment to end the violence, and support all women and girls in fully realising their potential.
‘’The journey towards equality and the empowerment of women remains a significant one.
“Nigeria has already made great strides – most notably in the passage of legislations such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act which has now been domesticated in 34 states.
“Ending violence against women requires that key institutions work together, provide services, and ensure that the different bodies in society are held accountable, especially those that are responsible for law enforcement.
“On this note, I would like to emphasize that the NGWF is committed to keep working tirelessly with our partners and other stakeholders to see that gender-based violence is reduced to the barest minimum.
“Together, let us commit by making certain that every woman and girl counts, to ensuring that every girl in Nigeria can grow up in a world feeling secure and protected.’’
The NGF Chairman, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, pledges the NGF continue collaboration with NGWF to drive their initiatives at the subnational to tackle SGBV.
Tambuwal represented by the FNGF Director –General, Asishana Okauru, said that tackling SGBV by governors in their respective states remain a priority.
Tambuwal said that as parts of the governors’ demonstration of their commitment, as at November, 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had VAPP Act, while 32 states had also domesticated the Child Rights Act.
He said that in spite the commendable progress Nigeria had made there was still more that needed to be done to achieve the goal of eliminating GBV against Women and Girls.
“This conference represents a further step in an ongoing process: putting the rights of women and girls at the heart of the Nigerian Government and taking on the existing and emerging challenges that we see in this field.
“We must unite in the campaign to end this scourge,’’ Tambuwal said.
The forum Chairperson and wife of Sokoto State Governor, Mariya Aminu Tambuwal, listed the objectives of the conference to include, bringing stakeholders together for a high-level advocacy forum on SGBV to commemorate the Global 16 days of Activism campaign against Gender-Based Violence.
She said the event was: “To launch our projects such as the SGBV Accountability Tracker, SGBV Standard Operating Procedures, SGBV Service Providers Directory & State First Ladies Handbook.
“To showcase the contributions of NIGWF members towards mitigating SGBV.
“To show solidarity with women and the organizations that support them. And to use the media to attract attention to GBV issues, Gender Empowerment and NIGWF’s role.”
Tambuwal said that was critical as awareness-raising was crucial to spreading the clear message of zero tolerance of all forms of violence against women and girls.
“It is also crucial to inform victims of their rights and the support services available to them.”
She added that “The first ladies’ approach to eliminate SGBV is holistic, it is also systematic, complementary, and comprehensive, and we aim to achieve this through a multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional approach.”
On her part, minister of women affairs, Pauline Tallen, commended Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai for efforts to stem sex-related abuses by signing the amendment to the state’s penal code law in September 2021.
The amended penal code provides that men convicted of raping children under the age of 14 will have their testicles surgically removed, while women will have their fallopian tubes cut out.