By Idris Khalid
The Zamfara State First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Bello Matawallen Maradun has flagged off the 2021 16 Days of activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
In a press release signed by Zainab Shuaibu Abdullahi media aide to Zamfara First Lady, said the campaign is International Event for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children. The event is aimed at focusing on massive awareness campaign of violence against women and children.
Speaking while flagging off the event organised by the First Lady's office in collaboration with the Ministry for Women and Children Affairs in Government House Gusau, the First Lady said the event is one of the programmes given priority by her office.
"This is inline with the beautiful agendas of My dear husband, His Excellency, Governor Bello Muhammad Matawallen Maradun MON to promote women's development in the state."
She therefore called on all stakeholders in the state to join hands together for the benefit in order to achieve the desired goal of the campaign.
She noted that at national level, the forum of Nigerian Governors Wives in collaboration with the office of the First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari have teamed up to intensify and take this campaign to the grassroots with a bid to curb this menace.
"My office is committed to take this sensitization to every nook and cranny of the state. A week-long campaign is a complement of our ongoing Pet project initiative in the state.
"As we gather here today, we know the huge responsibility bestowed upon us and the primary responsibility as stakeholders is to see how we can effectively carryout this campaign and yield positive and maximum results in mitigation.
"We have programs lined up to champion this agenda in the state.Today, we are here to officially flag off of this crusade.
"The next in our line of action is a student based organized competition on GBV aimed to inculcate and create awareness on the issue among the young ones".
The First Lady said that, one of the major activities of the programme is to hold a procession to reach out to people on the sensitization program.
"At the end of this week long program, we are optimistic that we are going to make substantial progress.
"We are committed in eliminating this ugly trend. We hold ourselves accountable to deliver on this responsibility", Hajiya Aisha Matawalle explained.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Dr Rabi Ibrahim Shinkafi appreciate Her Excellency for her support to Women and Children in the state to have access to better lives.
The Commissioner also commended His Excellency, Governor Matawalle for giving priority to women and children related issues.
Dr Rabi Shinkafi described first lady as a mother per excellent, "Zamfara, we are blessed with a visionary First Lady with various strategies of women's development.
"Women and Children in Zamfara benefitted alot from various projects initiated by her Excellency. You initiated Women Empowerment Project which has uplifted the lives of thousands of vulnerable women across the 14 LGAs of the state.
"Girl Child Education programme, Mama Kit project aimed at eradicating maternal infant and mortality rate as well as providing women with skills that makes to them financially stable", the Commissioner added.
The event was attended by Members of the State Steering Committee on GBV and various Stakeholders including State Council of Ulamas, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), UNICEF, Save the Children International (SCI) among others.
Other important personalities that attended the occasion include Commissioners of Education, Hajiya Zainab Lawal Gummi; Humanitarian Affairs, Fa'ika M Ahmad, Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Sheikh Tukur Sani Jangebe and State Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajiya Aisha Waziri, among others.
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