Monthly Archives: February 2023

Hadis Foundation Facilitates Programs in Kaduna and Kwara states.

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In furtherance of the Popularisation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (POVAPPS) Project and in solidarity with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Hadis Foundation facilitated programs in Kaduna and Kwara states. The programs consisted of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) training for select government agencies and civil society organisations, the State Sexual Offenders Database launch (SSOD) in Kaduna State, the Launch of SGBV Radio programs in Kwara State, Secondary Schools Safe Spaces Gender Clubs Creativity Tournament for select secondary schools in the three senatorial districts of Kwara State and a town hall dialogue with market women leaders (Iyalojas) and Keke NAPEP riders in the state.

The GESI training was held on the 22nd of November 2022. The participants were trained on how best to recognize and understand the barriers and opportunities for GESI and increase awareness of inappropriate behaviours and improper conduct; as well as understand how to promote safer workspaces. The training was facilitated by Hadiza Umar with assistance from Aliyu Salihu.

The State Sexual Offenders Register and Database launch in Kaduna State was held on the 23rd of Novem 2023. This event had in attendance, the deputy governor of Kaduna  State, Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, who launched the SSOD. In her remarks, she noted that “the idea of the Kaduna State Sexual Offenders Register and Database is to name, shame and document offenders so that others will be unwilling to engage in these nefarious acts.” Other High-Level Multi-Agency Task Teams comprising the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, security agencies, civil society organisations, and correctional centres were in attendance. Hadis Foundation promised to continue to support the maintenance of the register.

Hadis Foundation anti-SGBV radio programs were launched on the 1st of December 2022 in Kwara state. The radio programs were used to announce the launch of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in the state, to popularise the toll-free lines and to amplify the POVAPPS message in simple English and local languages in the state.

The Secondary Schools Safe Spaces Gender Clubs Creativity Tournament was held on the 2nd of December 2022 and involved a quiz on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, a spelling bee competition, talent shows, and a public speaking competition amongst the students. The event was graced by the Hon. Commissioner for Ministry of Women Affairs Kwara state, Hon. Abdulmaliq-Bashir Mopelola, who reiterated the state’s commitment to punishing perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence and support to Hadis Foundation and other civil society organizations in the fight to end SGBV in the state.

The sponsor of the POVAPPS project, Ford Foundation through their representative, Ms. Olufunke Baruwa thanked the Hadis Foundation for the great work that they are doing and noted in her speech that “through this project, we are raising a generation that will eradicate gender-based violence”.

The Town Hall meeting with the market leaders and Keke NAPEP riders was held on the 3rd of December 2022. The town hall was to dialogue with them and involve them in SGBV prevention in the state. This was done in simple English and Yoruba languages. The SGBV focal person for the Ministry of Women Affairs, Hadiza Umar, educated the participants on SGBV prevention and protecting children, in Yoruba Language and charged them to not overlook any case of sexual and gender-based violence but to report to the nearest authorities. The helplines and other avenues of reporting were shared with the participants.

The Ford Foundation supported Hadis POVAPPS project seeks to enhance agency to reduce the SGBV menace in States by strengthening sexual assault referral centers and increasing the use of their services, creating better response avenues for victims and survivors, equipping the citizens with the knowledge of the VAPP law, and building community vanguards who will help curb SGBV in Kwara and Kaduna States.

With the support of the Ford Foundation

Hadis Foundation, with support from Ford Foundation, hosts a dialogue on the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Laws in Kaduna State

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Hadis Foundation co-hosted with the department of Political Science of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), a dialogue on the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law in Kaduna State. The dialogue focused on students from tertiary institutions held on 27 October 2021, at the Auditorium of the School of Postgraduate Studies, ABU. The prevalence of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in society, also exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, made this dialogue necessary. 

The Ford Foundation supported hybrid event brought together students, professors, practitioners, and senior government officials physically and online.  The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State Dr Hadiza Balarabe gave an address of commitment. Ms Funke Baruwa shared a goodwill message from the Ford Foundation.  The Vice-Chancellor ABU represented by the Director IDRT Prof Binta Abdulkarim gave the keynote address and reiterated ABU’s commitment to creating safe spaces. The Head of the Department of Political Science ABU, Dr Rahana Lawal presented the baseline findings on SGBV in Kaduna state.  The Honorable Commissioner for Humanitarian Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Muhammed Baba, presented the simplified version of the Kaduna VAPP Law and Penal Code written in English and Hausa languages.  Prof Hauwa Yusuf of Kaduna State University moderated a village square conversation that brought together the panel and audience to discuss what is changing about the SGBV landscape. 

The event offered an opportunity to understand the different ways the POVAPPS initiative can help address SGBV. At the same time, it popularized the laws that exist to protect people from all forms of violence and showed how to seek help when one encounters any form of SGBV.  In our commitment to advancing the cause of ending Sexual and Gender-based Violence and inclusion, Hadis Foundation pledged to:

1. Support the Kaduna State Government in producing sexual offenders and service provider registers for the state.
2. Provide a disability access ramp for Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria’s Postgraduate Hall to aid access to the auditorium.
3. Support Kaduna Sexual Assault Referral Centers ( SARCs)
4. Create a “safe spaces corner” for the Ahmadu Bello University student community through the school’s Gender Unit.
5. Work with all the students to serve as a vanguard in tertiary institutions in Kaduna State to create safer spaces on and off campuses.

The Ford Foundation supported Hadis POVAPPS project seeks to enhance agency to reduce SGBV menace in states, by strengthening SARCS and increasing the use of their services, and better response avenues for victims and survivors in Kaduna and Kwara States.

Hadis Foundation, dialogue on the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Laws in Kwara State

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Hadis Foundation, in collaboration with Kwara State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and other partners, hosted a dialogue on the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (POVAPPS) Law in Kwara State. The dialogue focused on popularizing the 2020 gazetted Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) law, held on 25 November 2021, at the Kwara Hotels, Ilorin. The prevalence of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in society, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, made this dialogue necessary.

The hybrid event, sponsored by the Ford Foundation, brought together secondary school students, teachers, traditional rulers, security forces, civil society practitioners, the Kwara SGBV committee, and top government officials in person and virtually. Chief Kayode Alabi, the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, delivered a commitment address. Ms Funke Baruwa shared a message of goodwill from the Ford Foundation, acknowledging the commencement of the United Nations’ Orange 16 days of activism against Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) and the Ford Foundation’s ongoing commitment to eradicating SGBV. Yusuf Ali, SAN, delivered the keynote lecture, highlighting the increase in sexual and gender-based assault cases and low conviction rates; he argued for more rigorous punishment for perpetrators and psychological evaluation and mandatory psychiatric rehabilitation, including a law for the protection of persons with disabilities.

The Honorable Deborah Abosede Aremu, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development (MWASD), pledged the government’s commitment to ending SGBV in the state including establishing Sexual Assault Referral Centers (SARCs) in state hospitals to provide safety and assistance to individuals in need. A village square conversation which brought together panelists and audience members to address the shifting environment of
sexual and gender-based violence had government, disability community, academia and medical field committing to fighting SGBV in Kwara state. The Permanent Secretary Hajiya Afusat Nike Ibrahim presented the Hadis produced simplified version of the Kwara VAPP Law in English and Yoruba. She encouraged students and other young people to seek assistance and contact the appropriate organizations if they encounter any type of SGBV. In keeping with the Hadis Foundation’s commitment to ending sexual and gender- based violence and developing community vanguards, the foundation received pledges from residents and organizations interested in the project and willing to collaborate as vanguards in the fight to end SGBV in Kwara State.

Habiba Dangana (Hadis) Foundation gets Ford Foundation funding to Popularize the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in Kwara and Kaduna States.

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Ford Foundation has given a grant of $250,000 across two years to Hadis Foundation to popularize the VAPP law in Kwara and Kaduna States. The two-year project  code-named POVAPPS has kicked off with a baseline scoping study to map stakeholders, identify forms of Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV)  and simplifying the laws in both states.  A session with Kwara State’s steering committee was held on July 13, 2021. The session attended by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Directors and security sector players and civil society leaders dissected the known and unknown in SGBV in Kwara. In August the Kaduna team had a youth-focused FGD with students from tertiary institutions in the state. In a strategy to save time and maximise resources, the documentary teams of young visual leaders are embedded in the baseline team. Already, incredible photos, voice and visual b- rolls are emerging   

We are grateful to all stakeholders, partners, team members and allies concerned about SGBV with whom we collaborate on this project. We look forward to an exciting, educational and life-transforming journey.

Hadis Foundation seeks to provide early startup opportunities for businesses and innovative ideas with the potential to uplift women and girls.

Media Contact:

Obianuju Iloanya

Communications Officer

Obianujuiloanya@hadisfoundation.org.ng

(+234)8161839895

hadisfoundation.org.ng 

A people ready for the world

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Bring it on says one of the headline banners of the London 2012 Olympics and were they ready! A friend had alerted me to the infectious and surreal experience of being in London during the 2012 Olympics. This was ahead of the opening ceremony date of 27th July. My group did not have tickets for the opening ceremony. We could not shell out between 300 and 3000 GBP for an opening night ticket! But we had fun. In a society where there is relative and not absolute poverty, there is a place for everyone.

The London Olympics website announced free ways to get involved with London 2012; activities to organise with friends and family, London 2012 Festival events to attend and ways to get involved without leaving the comfort of your home, there was something out there for everybody. There were suggestions for everybody, including schools, sports fans, and culture lovers – both in the UK and around the world. You had the option of huge screens in the parks or sitting with friends at a restaurant to watch for group therapy or just in the privacy of your room. The BBC gave detailed coverage.

Not even the threat of terror could keep the crowd away, there were over 80,000 spectators in the Stratford Olympic park stadium on opening night. Victoria park and even Shakespeare’s birthplace Stratford upon Avon in the British countryside had viewing centre.

Patriotism and national pride burned bright. Proud service providers; from hotel, to taxi drivers, to bus drivers and shop owners all hugged you with bright smiles and helpful advice. Every Briton we met was ready to welcome the visitors. The most amazing of them all was the Volunteers. I absolutely applauded Lord Seb Coe – London Olympic Organising Committee Chair when he singled out the volunteers for a much-deserved commendation at the opening and closing ceremonies. From the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies to traffic control and visitor information, volunteers were everywhere at every train station and bus stops and any Olympic venue and that meant other town venues such as Manchester in the north of England. There my daughter and I watched football icons Brazil welcome debutant Belarus in Rio style with a 3-1 goal line. 66,212 spectators were thrilled to classical display of skills at Old Trafford. Brazil went on to settle for silver having lost gold to Mexico.

Like everything in life there were lessons from the 2012 London Olympics.

First is education. It is the tool for national development. There were volunteers from all fields of endeavour relevant to the successful hosting of the Olympics, and they came with vast skills. Any country with an educated populace will definitely be at the cutting edge of knowledge because then ideas would triumph. The coordination of the Olympics and the grand opening and closing ceremonies were a testimony to the spirit of the Britons and the celebration of imagination.

Second is motivation: A motivated people will always deliver 10 out of 10; whether in sports or medicine or farming or in song. Britain hosted and finished 3rd on the medal table with 65 medals. You would think the volunteers were professionals in the field of calisthenics’, ushering and guiding and the transport sector. I guess anyone would be good at what they had to do if they were well trained, briefed on what to do and motivated to do it.

Third is the organisation: Nothing beats organisation. When you have a game plan and consistently follow a blueprint over a period of time, success is bound to come out of that hard work. Things went like clockwork including crowd control, merchandising and most importantly the logistics of the games. The transportation system was a dream. Even the much-feared traffic jam in the heart of London did not happen.

Flexibility: The beauty of organising is that you have a plan B which means you know that things could go wrong and are prepared to mitigate them if that should happen. There was some downside to the 2012 Olympics. E.g. for a city whose economy thrives on tourism and commerce, London was reported to be way less full than its usual bustling self. Seats were empty at some Olympic venues. That didn’t dampen things; a self-correcting system went into action. Organisers moved in to fill those seats; teachers, students and the military got choice seats! Tickets were moped up and resold to the public. No system is perfect you have to work at it, but there must be flexibility to respond, and self adjust. That comes from years of practice and learning.

The 2012 theme inspire a generation was apt. Yi Shiwen the 16-year-old female Chinese swimmer broke all records in the 400 meters individual swimming event including beating the men’s time for the same distance. This is what we need to do to go back to youth development and begin to build a young squad that will be ready for international competitions in the next 8 to 12 years. We used to be good in athletics, boxing and football. Chioma Ajunwa won our first individual gold medal in the long jump in 1996;our national football team won gold in 1996 and silver in 2008. In 2012 Nigeria entered for eight sports out of a total of 36 in the Olympics and won no medal.

How could we throw a few million naira into our Olympics preparations months to the games and expect miracles? You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that victory comes at a price; commitment, selfless dedication, investment at the individual and system level those are the currency. It was sad to see how many Nigerian born athletes we gave other countries of the world. They seem to be telling us; well you could not give us a chance at home so we had to go elsewhere. Here at least they gave us a chance to nurture our talent.

Even though the Olympics flame has been extinguished, London is still agog with Olympics fever, This time it is the Paralympians ready to go higher, faster, stronger; a great symbolism of what anyone can do when they are determined no matter what human condition they may find themselves. That gives me hope for my country. That if we learn to plan and start early and work consistently to give room to the best to excel, we can reclaim our Olympic glory.

Things are in top gear for the 2012 Paralympics. Mandeville, the Olympics mascot, has handed over the torch to Wenlock the Paralympic mascot as the Olympic rings give way to the Paralympic Agitos. Rio is set to host not just the Olympics and Paralympic games, but it’s a double warmy as they got to host the FIFA world cup in 2014.

Rio has begun its count down to the Olympics and Paralympics game with over 1475 days to go at that. Are we ready, Nigeria? Maybe if we start serious preparations now, we may just surpass our 1996 feat in Rio.

Amina Salihu, August 2012