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, 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.

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