Over 50 leaders trained to Address GBV cases in Sokoto Communities

Determined to reduce the cases of gender based violence (GBV) in Sokoto state, over fifty community leaders have been trained on ways to address the challenges of sexual gender based violence

The community leaders aside being trained on combatting Gender Based Violence were also trained on best ways to educate their subjects on cases of COVID-19, Family Planning and Child Care in their respective communities.

Training beneficiaries, including traditional, religious, women and youth leaders, were from five electoral wards each of Sokoto South and Dange/Shuni Local Government Areas of the state were educated on how best to tackle the rising cases or violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) in the state

The training was organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with Plan Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN), a non governmental organisation.

State Coordinator of PPFN Hafsatu Halilu, says that the training is in order to harmonise the community leaders in each LGA, to work together in addressing cases of GBV, COVID-19 and family planning, among others.

She says the exercise is aimed at educating leaders against settling GBV cases in their respective communities and ways to tackle the menace at the grassroot as well as implications.

According to her, the programme is a pilot project which will also cover the remaining 21 LGAs of Sokoto State with a strong conviction the training will help in reducing recorded cases of gender based violence and abused of other vulnerable persons.

The Chairman, Volunteer Organisation of PPFN, Ibrahim Galadanchi, assured that the training would increase impact on improved support by the community leaders commitment and engagement to their people.

He says the action plan formation at community level would enhance the knowledge of the leaders toward addressing their community’s challenges.