Initiative Promotes Girl-Child Protection, Gender Equality in Bauchi
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Girl Child Value Support Initiative (GCVSI) says it is promoting girl-child protection, gender equality and community participation to address gender-based violence (GBV), child marriage and other harmful practices in Bauchi State.
The Programme Manager of the initiative, Mr Sadisu Yau Ibrahim, disclosed this at a quarterly stakeholders’ meeting in Bauchi.
Ibrahim said the initiative was implementing the “Zabin Rayuwa” (Choice of Life) project to improve awareness and access to information and support services for girls across the state.
He said teenage girls from the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bauchi had been trained to use storytelling, radio drama, film production and structured drama to raise awareness on GBV and other harmful social norms.
According to him, the project, supported by AmplifyChange and GCVSI, seeks to strengthen girls’ access to information on child protection services, sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and available support mechanisms.
He said child marriage was influenced by several factors, including poverty, social expectations, unequal gender relations, limited opportunities, inadequate access to information and weak community accountability mechanisms.
Ibrahim said the initiative also provided a platform for girls, survivors, parents, religious and traditional leaders to share experiences and contribute to solutions.
“It is aimed at mobilising community participation in protecting girls and preventing harmful practices,” he said.
He explained that selected girls underwent fellowship training in community theatre, acting, storytelling, facilitation, advocacy, community engagement and leadership.
One of the participants, Mrs Elizabeth George, said protecting the girl-child was a collective responsibility that required sustained attention from families, communities and relevant institutions.
George stressed the importance of creating safe spaces where girls could freely express their concerns and seek support.
Another participant, Mr Sani Mohammed, described the stakeholders’ review meeting as timely, saying it would enable policymakers and other stakeholders to strengthen interventions aimed at reducing GBV among young people.
He called for continued collaboration among stakeholders to promote the rights, safety and wellbeing of girls in Bauchi State.
