…As Traditional and Religious Leaders Sign Document to End Menace
By Yunusa Isa, Gombe
The Gombe State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to zero tolerance for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) across the state.
This declaration was made during a stakeholders’ town hall meeting organized by the Office of the State First Lady, Hajiya Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya, in collaboration with relevant partners.
The First Lady stated that the strong political will of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the state legislature has positioned Gombe for robust collaboration with donor agencies, ensuring GBV is addressed decisively.
“Out of his concern for the protection of children, women, and the vulnerable, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya signed the Child Protection Law and the VAPP Law into law in 2022,” she noted. “These commitments have earned Gombe a special spot in national and international spheres, particularly in the fight against GBV. Consequently, Gombe was selected as one of the six pilot states for this program in Nigeria.”
The First Lady called on traditional and religious leaders to ensure perpetrators in their domains are exposed and face the full wrath of the law, asserting that the state “has no room for GBV monsters.”
She urged all stakeholders—particularly parents and community leaders—to key into the campaign to ensure women and children are safe in schools, parks, markets, and other public spaces.
While encouraging parents and caregivers to report incidents, she noted that the Social Welfare Department of the State Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Welfare is fully equipped to handle such cases. The First Lady also commended 11 GBV survivors who voluntarily stepped forward during the meeting to encourage other victims to speak out.
Representing the traditional institution, the representative of Senior District Head of Gombe, Alhaji Sammani Bappah, joined representatives from the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Saleh Ɗanburam, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mercy Francis, in expressing full support for the initiative. They noted that rape and other forms of sexual immorality have no place in Islam, Christianity, or the cultural values of Gombe People.
While pledging their support, the leaders also charged parents to remain vigilant regarding their children’s whereabouts and social circles. The trio signed a binding document on behalf of religious and traditional leaders across the state, following an oath of commitment to enlighten their subjects on the prohibition of GBV.
In their goodwill messages, the Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Honourable Abubakar Muhammad Luggerewo (represented by Majority Leader Yerima Ladan Gaule), and the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Gabriel Galadima, stressed the assembly’s commitment to providing better laws and policies for the protection of women and children.
Speaking on behalf of the wives of the 11 local government chairmen, Hajiya Bilkisu Ibrahim Salisu (wife of the Balanga Local Government Chairman) commended the First Lady’s dedication and the Governor’s political will, promising to extend the campaign to the local government areas.
Resource persons Hajiya Halima Mahdi and Mrs. Sheba Samuel presented papers on the socio-cultural dimensions of GBV and community advocacy. They emphasized that stakeholders must work together to dismantle practices that promote violence within families.
The presenters called for equal treatment of boys and girls, noting that the denial of education, early marriage, and the relegation of the girl child to domestic chores are also forms of gender-based violence.
They further appealed to the government to prioritize poverty eradication, arguing that economic hardship is a major factor exposing girls to exploitation.
The Speaker of the Gombe State Children’s Parliament, Hon. Ramlat Kasim Ahmad, commended the Governor and the House of Assembly for enacting the VAPP and Child Protection Laws, stating that these legal frameworks guaranteed the protection of children’s rights and welfare in Gombe State.