By; AMOS MATHEW, Kaduna
A Non Governmental Organization (NGO) known as Nigera Network of Religious Leaders with Persons Affected by HIV/AIDS (NINERELA+), has condemned the increase in cases of gender based violence against the female folks in country.
This condemnation was made known by the National Coordinator NINERELA+, Amber Itohan Erinmwinhe, in Unguwan Romi in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State in a dialogue meeting with boys and men to find a lasting solution to end gender based violence.
According to her, gender based violence is becoming rampant in communities as it is being carried out by male folks especially the youths and nothing is being done about it.
” Haven noticed the rampant cases of such in communities, we decided to engage men and boys who mostly carried out this act without knowing the consequence of such actions in a dialogue to proffer solutions to see how we can collectively put an end to such ungodly act.
” So the essence of the dialogue is to brainstorm, thank God they were able to identify issues around rape, injustice, child trafficking and other gender based violence, which they are ready now to fight against such act in the future”, she said.
She added that, after the youths noticed that they are the perpetrators of such act, they proffer solutions and decided to form a group known as Gender Champions to say no to gender based violence in their various communities.
Also speaking, the Programme Manager of the NGO, Mr Nwakamma Ikenna said it is a crusade that must be taking seriously to end such a bad act in our various communities in the country.
He went further to say that, ” it is a crusade that we just have to take to the grassroots where this act are being perpetrated frequently to enable us find a lasting solution to end it completely as our ultimate goal at the end of the day is to secure gender based justice, equal opportunities for both male and female and a healthy environment for everybody”.
Earlier, the Nigerian Ambassador to NINERELA+, Aisha Usman, commended religious and traditional leaders for their support and for giving them the enable environment to allow the program to hold.
According to her, the purpose of the program is achieved as everyone is given the opportunity to talk on why especially the youths engaged in abusing the female folks, which at the end of the day they all agreed to form a team to stop such acts in their various communities.
At the end of the programme, participants gave kudos to the NGO for the choice of their communities that the issues discussed is timely and promised to maintain the group to fight against gender based violence in their various communities.
