Alarmed by the rising cases of gender based violence across schools in Gombe State, Open Knowledge Development Initiative (OKDI) has commenced a prevention and response framework to address the menace.
During a one day engagement session organised by OKDI with stakeholders towards addressing the disturbing societal challenge, Adamu Usman, OKDI’s Executive Director, explained that the meeting was part of ongoing ‘AmplifyHer for save schools’ campaign in Gombe State, with support from PLAN International.
He noted that a recent school visit by the organisation revealed a shocking discrepancy between reported cases of GBV and the actual number of incidents.
Usman revealed that, “Within just one month, we recorded and addressed five GBV cases in schools, whereas the Gombe State Government reported fewer than 400 cases over four years. This underscores the need for improved data collection and reporting mechanisms to address GBV effectively.”
According to him, his organisation is dedicated to fostering positive societal change, noting that the recently convened session was aimed at enriching its draft GBV prevention framework by bringing together a diverse group of specialists to address the pressing issue in schools and communities.
He stated that, “We are committed to creating safer environments for women and girls in Nigeria.The development of our GBV Prevention Framework is a critical step towards achieving this goal.
“Contributions will serve as a foundation for the final draft of the GBV Prevention Framework and the establishment of a Centralised Gender-Based Violence Reporting System,” Usman maintained.
Muib Shefiu, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of OKDI, described the organisation’s efforts towards combating GBV in Gombe State as timely and urgent.
“OKDI’s AmplifyHer for Safe Schools Campaign and the development of the GBV prevention framework reflect the organisation’s unwavering commitment to creating safer environments for women and girls in Nigeria.
“As OKDI continues to push for systemic change, its efforts serve as a beacon of hope for communities grappling with the scourge of gender-based violence.” Muib stated.
During the session, participants brainstormed on key issues related to GBV, including root causes, challenges, and potential solutions. Divided into groups, the participants presented their findings, highlighting innovative ideas and strategies to integrate into the framework.
The OKDI team documented these contributions, which will serve as a foundation for the final draft of the GBV Prevention Framework and the establishment of Centralised Gender Based Violence Reporting System.
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