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FOMWAN holds dialogue over harmful practices against women
Nasiru Yusuf
The Deputy National Amirah of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Hajiya Habiba Abubakar Mijinyawa has condemned some harmful traditional practices against women and called for a change.
KANO FOCUS reports that Hajiya Mijinyawa made the call at a one-day social dialogue organise to sensitise the general public on the dangers of such practices.
The event, tagged: ‘One-day Social Dialogue with key stakeholders on Sexual Gender Based Violence, Trafficking In Persons and forced Marriage,’ was held in Kano on Friday.
It was organised for participants from Kano, Jigawa and Zamfara States. It was an interactive session which featured group works and presentations from the participants on various topics related to the event’s subject matter.
Cross section of participants
The Deputy Amirah said some negative norms and practices promote violence against women and the girl-child.
Hajiya Mijinyawa, who doubles as the Programme Manager of the association, said the participants were gathered to find a lasting solution to such practices in the society.
She described sexual harassment, human trafficking and early marriage as worrying issues militating against societal development.
She said they wanted to use the forum to create awareness among the citizens in the community on the problems with a view to eradicating them.
Cross section of participants
On his part, the Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer from the national headquarters of the association, Malam Muhammad Danjuma Abubakar, said the project is a five year.
Malam Abubakar said they used the occasion to see how they could strengthen the capacity of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the three states in converting child trafficking, child early forced marriage as well as those issues having to do with gender base violence.
He said among the stakeholders, they identified religious leaders, traditional in stitutions, the CSOs, people with disabilities and women as critical to the success of the programme.
Cross section of participants
He said they brought them together to share ideas that would shape the society in ensuring that those issues were tackled to the barest minimum.
“The project started this year 2022 even though others started last year 2021 but it is going to finish by the year 2025,” he said.
Highlighting on the presentation he made on safeguarding, he said it was necessary, adding that: “This is because sometimes, people forget to understand the situation they find themselves.
Cross section of participants
“So, we concentrate more on those victims and survivors, whereas some of those issues we are advocating for also happen within our work space.”
“The presentation focuses on those who are giving the services so that they will not find themselves in the situation.
“Because when you look at issues of discrimination, sexual harassment and all of that, they also happen in work places,” he said.
Malam Abubakar explained that the presentation was to ensure that: “We don’t fall trap of what we preach to others.”
Cross section of participants
According to him, as the project is for everyone, they build the capacity of not only the CSOs; they also try to those from the judiciary as they are interlinked.
“So we also interface with judges, the alkalis and Imams so that when it comes to their tables, they understand the best way on how issues can be addressed fully.
“But going forward, we have identified the media as critical stakeholders as they amplify the voices of those who are voiceless less,” Malam Abubakar said.
Also speaking to KANO FOCUS, Communication Officer of FOMWAN and Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) Project, Malam Suleiman Mukhtar, said before gathering the participants, they conducted a situational analysis on the three states on the matter.
He said they found out that there were retrogressive cultures taking place in those states that seemed to create a ground for sexual and gender base violence, trafficking in persons, child and early forced marriage in the three states.
Cross section of participants
As a result, he said they saw the need to strengthen knowledge of the stakeholders CSOs, community and religious leaders, legal practitioners and the media to carry out the awareness campaign.
Malam Mukhtar said they engaged in the social dialogue in order to gather a mixture of the various stakeholders to interact from the training done in the past on how to create workable solutions to the problems.
He therefore stressed that it is very important for every person in the society to say no to such retrogressive cultures and adulterated religious practices that seem to be stumbling blocks to a progressive society where they were trying to eradicate social and gender base violence, trafficking in persons and forced marriage.
A participant from Kano state branch of the Joint Association of People with Special Needs Malam Aminu Ahmad Tudun Wada pledged to step down the training to other members of the association who were not opportune to be at the occasion so that they would be fully aware of what they are expected to do on the matter.
Malam Aminu Ahmad Tudun Wada
He said they are supported by some lawyers who render free service to them, urging members of the association to forward issues on the subject matter for appropriate actions to be taken by the association.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has vowed to appeal the judgement of the governorship election tribunal which nullified his election and declared the APC candidate, Nasiru Yusuf Gawauna as the winner.
KANO FOCUS reports that Yusuf made the declaration on Wednesday night, while making a broadcast to the people of the state.
He said his legal team had been directed to appeal the judgement at the court of appeal in order to reclaim the mandate given to him by the people of the State.
He, therefore, Called on the good people of the state to remain calm and continue to be law abiding as security agents have been directed to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizens.
“Let me assure you that the this government would continue to work for the development of the people of the state as the judgement will never dampen our spirit or discourage us from the good work we have started.” he said.
The Governor, who thanked the people of the state for their continued support and cooperation, urged them to go about with normal activities.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Tuesday, said that Kano State has recorded 5,800 suspected cases of Diphtheria from January to date.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Head, UNICEF Field Office, Kano, Mr Rahama Mohammned-Farah, stated this in Kano during a one-day media orientation on Diphtheria outbreak.
The UN Agency said the cases were recorded in 39 local government areas of the state.
According to him, Kano State has the highest number of recorded cases in the country, adding that Diphtheria was a highly contagious and infectious disease that could cause death.
Mohammned-Farah stressed that proactive measures were necessary to stem the outbreak.
“Recently, we have seen a surge in the number of reported Diphtheria cases in Nigeria, and Nigeria is currently facing an outbreak that needs to be stopped and prevented.
“As of July, Diphtheria cases have been on the rise. As of last week, over 400 suspected cases with 11 deaths have been reported in Kano.
“Out of the 39 LGAs affected, eight are the most affected, including Ungogo with 2,651 cases; Dala 989, Fagge 943, Gwale 714, Kumbotso 713, Nasarawa 538, Kano Municipal 506 and Tarauni 269,” he said.
He said that 60.8 per cent of the suspected cases had been reported in children not vaccinated, which reinforced the critical need to address the issue of zero doses, especially in Kano State.
“UNICEF delivered 1.2 million vaccines to the Kano State Government in our continuing support to the government response to Diphtheria outbreak.
“Diphtheria outbreak is a threat to child survival, health and the wellbeing of children. UNICEF is collaborating with government and partners to respond to the emergency to save the lives of children affected.
“In Kano state, UNICEF supported Tetanus-Diphtheria reactive vaccination campaigns in February, April and August, vaccinating 23,200 children in round one.
“While 277,796 children vaccinated in round two and 29,500 others in round-3 of the exercise.
“We engaged 150 traditional leaders on Diphtheria outbreak and distribution of Diphtheria IEC materials, and deployed 1,500 VCMs to the worst affected LGAs to conduct house-to-house sensitisations and referral of suspected cases to health facilities.
“Media has a key role to play particularly in infection prevention, and risk communication and community engagement,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Muhammad Nasir-Mahmoud, the Director-General, Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, said the state government had adopted drastic measures to curtail spread of the disease.
“We are committed towards educating the public about what is happening and the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has promised that Kano will be accorded priority in terms of vaccine distribution,” he said.
While describing the media as partners in the fight against Diphtheria, Nasir-Mahmoud urged them to support the campaign against the disease.
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Interparty Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) has urged the judges of the Kano election petition tribunal court to discharge its duties with utmost integrity and impartiality.
KANO FOCUS reports that this was contained in a statement issued by the organization secretary Kano chapter Nuhu Idris on Tuesday.
IPAC also called upon the tribunal to consider each case diligently and ensure that all the parties involved are given equal opportunities to present their argument and evidence.
It could be recalled that the election tribunal has fixed Wednesday 20th September 2023 to deliver judgment on APC’s petition against Abba Kabir Yusuf.
A hearing notice issued by the Secretary of the election petition tribunal on Monday said the judgment would be delivered at 9.00 a.m., at the High Court of Miller Road in Kano.
Mr Idris said the organization has acknowledged the importance of the electoral process in a democratic society, where the voice and choice of the people are paramount.
He said the ongoing legal proceedings before the tribunal are a testament to the vibrancy of democracy and the resolve of citizens to seek redress through legal means.
“IPAC firmly believes that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.
“We, Therefore, implore the tribunal to maintain transparency in its proceedings allowing the public and all concerned parties to have confidence in the outcome of the legal process, the statement said.
He added that it is essential that the tribunal’s decisions are guided by the rule of law and the facts presented, rather than any external influence.
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