Islamic scholars from Northern Nigeria, traditional leaders, and University dons have met to proffer solutions to rising cases of Gender Based Violence, (GBV) at the grassroots.
The leaders who met this weekend in Abuja, during a workshop organized by the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), in partnership with the Bayero University Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith, Kano, and the Ford Foundation, expressed worry that so far cases of GBV in the key states under observation have been on the increase.
Executive Director of dRPC, Dr. Judith-Ann Walker, said urgent steps must be taken to clamp down on the numbers by educating community and religious leaders on the dangers of the scourge so that they in turn cascade the same awareness message to their subjects and followers.
Walker who was represented by the Director Programmes, dRPC, Dr. Stanley Ukpai, pointed out that Data from the Kano State Referral Centre revealed over 1,334 recorded cases of GBV in the last five years with a similar trend noted in the key states under the three key states of Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, Jigawa, and Zamfara, being considered under the ‘Transforming Muslim Opinion Leaders, (MoLs), as Champions for GBV’.
“Gender-based violence are in many ways entrenched in not just our culture but traditional practices and untangling that process takes a while and this is why agents of change like religious and traditional leaders have key roles to play,” Walker said.
She adds that the MOLs project being conducted by the dRPC is aimed at leveraging the influence of Islamic scholars and traditional leaders to mobilize communities in the fight against gender-based violence.
The coordinator of the MOLs project, Malam Ahmad Abdullahi-Ahmad, stated that “the initiative seeks to empower Islamic leaders to combat GBV, referencing insights gained from collaborations with scholars in Egypt.”
Dr. Taufiq Abubakar of Bayero University underscored the necessity of integrating Islamic teachings to address GBV effectively and pledged to enhance the capabilities of scholars to tackle the issue.
He encouraged participants to develop actionable strategies informed by discussions at the workshop.
Reiterating the commitment of Islamic clerics and other traditional leaders in fighting GBV’, the District Head of Gagi in Sokoto State, Sani Umar-Jabbi, highlighted the significance of approaching GBV from an Islamic perspective, suggesting that it was an essential element often overlooked in past interventions.
He said “Gender-based violence is harmful, it must be identified as harmful and avoided.
“Traditional and religious leaders are the custodians of traditions and customs so our ultimate aim is to ensure we bridge the gaps between the institutions fighting GBV, that is the government and other partners.”
