FIDA -Nigeria Engages Stakeholders On SGBV In Bauchi

By Ahmed Ahmed

Mrs Fatima Abubakar, Chairperson of the Federation Female Lawyers (FIDA-Nigeria), Bauchi state chapter, says that has commenced a one -year stakeholders engagement to reduce the burden of Sexual and Gender Based Violence(SGBV) in Bauchi state.Abubukar said this during an inaugural meeting held with the Kofar Fada community, Bauchi Local Government Area, on Monday.She said that the project was in partnership with USAID-Palladium and is tag “Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement(SCALE PROJECT).”
The Non Governmental Organizations(NGO) will also engage communities in early and forced marriage as well as trafficking in persons in four local government councils in the state.
She said that the project intends to improve referral, network and service to the vulnerable members of the society. 
Abubakar said that FIDA in Bauchi would partner with all stakeholders, civil society organizations and media to fight the menace.
She said as patriotic citizens and legal practitioners, members of FIDA would be in the forefront to bring culprits to book. 
Speaking, Mrs Sadiya Musa, an FIDA official,  engaged participants on preservation of evidence, capacity building of paralegal to better establishment of SGBV cases. 
She pointed out that evidences are paramount in legal procedures.
“We are supporting the vulnerable persons in the society in all aspects of GSBV.
“The public should know that evidences are very important in legal proceedings, so all clients of SGBV should be protected and all evidence preserving  for ble law take its course on perpetrators,” she said.
Musa also enjoined participants to embrace partners  for cordial and collective approach.
She identifies the community as a baseline for information sharing to the larger members of the society.
In his contribution, the Chairman, Bauchi Ward heads Association, Alhaji Abubakar Nuhu said that the community have contributed towards combating all social vices in their domain.
He expressed the commitment of the community and religious leaders in conducting all forms of sensitization campaigns to end the scourge in the state.
Nuhu said that the action has become imperative to collectively adopt a holistic approach to facilitate community engagement.