The Bauchi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development has begun training of 40 students drawn from 20 schools on Gender-Based Violence, GBV, prevention and awareness.
Mr. Ahmed Aliyu, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the ministry, disclosed this during a one-day engagement on Wednesday in Bauchi.
Aliyu said that the training was aimed at curbing the menace of GBV in society.
He said the students were also expected to establish GBV clubs in their respective schools to sustain awareness campaigns.
According to him, the initiative will help create awareness among students and reduce cases of GBV in schools and communities.
Aliyu explained that the training was a pilot programme initiated by the ministry in partnership with IPAS-Nigeria, the state High Court and IKRA Foundation for Women and Youth Development, IFWYD,.
“It is our hope that the pilot training will be scaled up across the state,” he said.
He added that the training would be conducted in four sessions to strengthen the capacity of students on GBV prevention and response.
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Also speaking, Mrs. Amina Garuba, Executive Director of IKRA Foundation for Women and Youth Development, said safe spaces remained essential for the emotional and psychological wellbeing of young people.
Represented by Miss Rukayya Othman, Garuba said safe spaces would help students overcome physical and psychological trauma.
“A safe space is an environment where individuals can speak freely without fear of discrimination, mockery or stigma.
“A safe space can be a classroom where teachers listen, a home where family members do not judge, or any environment where young people feel accepted and protected,” she said.
Garuba said survivors of violence often lose their sense of safety and confidence, stressing the need to establish supportive environments in schools and communities.
She assured that the foundation would continue to engage young people across the state, including Toro, Alkaleri and Bununu communities, on health rights and protection from abuse.
NAN
