By Gombe State Government has reiterated its strong commitment to eradicating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) across the state. This was made known at a stakeholders’ town hall meeting organized by the Office of the First Lady, Hajiya Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya, in Gombe. The forum brought together traditional, religious, and community leaders to strengthen collaboration in the fight against all forms of violence affecting women and children.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady emphasized that the political will of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the support of the State House of Assembly have placed Gombe at the forefront of GBV prevention in Nigeria. She noted that the signing of the Child Protection Law and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in 2022 demonstrated the administration’s determination to safeguard the vulnerable. According to her, these efforts earned Gombe recognition as one of six pilot states for GBV intervention programs.
Hajiya Asma’u Yahaya called on traditional and religious leaders to take decisive action against perpetrators of GBV within their communities. She urged parents and guardians to be vigilant and report cases of abuse to relevant authorities, stressing that the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare is fully equipped to handle such matters. She also commended 11 GBV survivors who came forward to share their experiences in order to encourage other victims to speak up.
In their separate remarks, representatives of traditional and religious institutions expressed full support for the campaign. The Senior District Head of Gombe, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) all condemned rape, adultery, and other forms of abuse as unacceptable in both religious and cultural values. They pledged to continue educating their followers on the need to uphold moral standards and protect the dignity of women and children.
Lawmakers at the event also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening legal frameworks that protect victims of violence. The Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, represented by the Majority Leader, and the House Committee Chairman on Women Affairs assured that the legislature would continue to support policies aimed at ending GBV. Wives of local government chairmen equally pledged to extend the campaign to grassroots communities across the state.
Resource persons at the meeting highlighted the social and economic factors fueling GBV, including poverty, denial of education, and harmful cultural practices. They called for equal opportunities for boys and girls, greater public awareness, and economic empowerment for women as key strategies to curb the menace. The stakeholders collectively agreed that sustained collaboration and community advocacy remain essential to achieving a violence-free Gombe State.
