The wife of Niger State governor, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Umar Bago, has expressed grave concern over the increasing rate of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the state, calling for coordinated efforts from stakeholders to address the menace.

Speaking as Chairperson of the State GBV Management Committee during a two-day capacity-building workshop in Minna, Mrs. Bago emphasized the need for collective action against the growing problem.

"The fight against GBV is not one that can be won by a single individual or agency. It requires synergy, compassion, skill, and an unrelenting commitment from all of us," she stated.

Coordinated Response Needed

Hajiya Bago lamented the rising cases of GBV in communities across Niger State, insisting that the situation demands not just any response, but one characterized by "clarity, competence, and coordination" from committee members.

She highlighted existing challenges, noting, "For too long, our frontline responders and committee members have been operating with limited resources, fragmented systems, and inconsistent protocols. This will end now, as we've decided to take serious steps in addressing this."

Alarming Rape Cases

Mairo Mann, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Women Affairs, expressed particular concern about rape cases, which she described as "a very big one in the GBV family." She noted with alarm that even infants and young children are among the victims.

"We are very happy that in the forthcoming LG elections all 25 councils have women as their vice chairmen, and we know that they will definitely champion this cause to make sure that it gets to the grassroots," Mann said.

She added that increased reporting of GBV cases is expected as awareness grows, though acknowledging the challenges survivors face. "For someone who has been raped, you don't expect it to come easy. But with a lot of counselling, some of them are able to still stabilise and continue with their lives."

Building Capacity to Combat GBV

The workshop, organized by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, aimed to equip committee members with necessary skills to prevent and address GBV in the state.

Lead consultant Mrs. Olutoyin Falade explained that participants would be trained on "various ways they prevent violence or reduce GBV in the state" and how to provide comprehensive support to survivors, including health, psychosocial, and economic assistance.

The initiative comes at a critical time as Niger State grapples with increasing reports of gender-based violence, particularly affecting vulnerable populations including children.