Kwara trains 193 health workers, security personnel on school-related gender-based violence

Kwara State government has reiterated its commitment to combating School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV), ensuring justice for victims and punishment for perpetrators.

The project coordinator of Kwara State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project, Mr Adeshina Salami, stated this at a three-day workshop, tagged, the ‘Development and Validation of SRGBV Referral Pathways,’ organised by the state’s Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development in collaboration with Kwara AGILE project.

The workshop, held in Offa and Ilorin respectively, brought together 193 health workers and security personnel across the 16 local government areas of the state, alongside key service providers assigned to Primary Health Care Centres in each local government area, to strengthen coordination and ensure inclusive structures for addressing SRGBV and supporting survivors, particularly adolescent girls.

“The administration of Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq strongly condemns any form of SRGBV and remains committed to supporting women and girls in every sphere to enable them maximize their full potential.

“The state commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, is also passionate about the education and safety of our adolescent girls and young women in school. With Almighty God helping us, we know that success is ours.

“We will support the government in building the capacity of our service providers and health workers to tackle this menace, ensure justice for victims and perpetrators duly punished”, he said.

In her presentation, the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Officer of the Project, Alhaja Idiat Alabi, noted that the workshop represents a critical step in strengthening collective capacity to prevent and respond effectively to SRGBV cases, while ensuring that girls have safe spaces to learn, grow and realize their full potentials.

According to her: “As service providers, you are a vital part of AGILE’s vision. Whether through healthcare, security, law enforcement, advocacy, or social support, your roles are central in removing the barriers that hinders girls from accessing education and opportunities.

“Through your collaboration, we can build a strong system that empowers adolescent girls to learn, thrive and achieve their dreams.

“This training is designed to equip you with the knowledge, tools and strategies required to deliver coordinated and survivor-centred services. It also provides a platform for sharing experiences, strengthening partnerships and harmonising our collective efforts to establish an effective referral and response mechanism across the state.”

Also speaking, the director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Kwara State, Mr Dare Abdulganiyu, said that the agency “stands in solidarity with the AGILE Project and every stakeholder. The fight against the scourge of gender-based violence in our schools is a fight for the soul of our educational system and the future of our children.

“It is not enough to condemn these acts; we must work in unison to prevent them, support survivors and ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for every child. This validated referral pathway is a crucial step in that direction.

“Our Agency will take this validated referral pathway to the grassroots. We will lead advocacy campaigns in communities, engage parents and community leaders, and intensify sensitisation efforts in schools, to educate students on their rights and the available support mechanisms. We will be the megaphone that amplifies this message to every corner of Kwara State, ensuring that no girl is left behind,” he added.

Lending his voice, the Director of Public Orientation, Kwara State Ministry of Communications, Mr Agboola Olarewaju, reiterated government’s efforts at curbing and ultimately eradicating SRGBV cases in the State.

He also assured of the support of the Public Orientation directorate to actively join the fight against SRGBV by creating awareness and sensitising the public and strengthening efforts, to protect survivors.

The workshop featured presentations by GBV experts, Dr Abigail Iyilade and Dr Hauwa Abubakar who explored types of GBV, effects and preventive strategies; Essential 21st Century Soft Skills for SRGBV Service Providers; Referral Pathways, among others.

This was followed by intensive technical sessions and validation of action plans.

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Critical stakeholders in attendance also promised to support the project, to ensure that adolescent girls have a safe space to learn in school and that cases of SRGBV are promptly reported and addressed.

Present at the workshop were; the Kwara State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Barr. Jumoke Olaoye; representatives from the Ministries of Social Development, Health, Justice; International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA); Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA).

Others were; Primary Health Care Development Agency, Family Court, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria; Security personnel; Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN); Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) and others.