Sokoto State Strengthens GBV Response Teams and Community Resilience: A Multi-Sectoral Push for Change

In a critical move to combat a pervasive societal issue, the Sokoto State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has convened key stakeholders to reinforce systems addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV). This initiative represents a significant step in a coordinated, multi-agency effort to protect vulnerable populations and build a more resilient community fabric.

The urgency of the mission was underscored by Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, during a GBV response teams review meeting. The gathering, part of the European Union-funded “Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescence Health (SARAH) in Nigeria” project, brought together a cross-section of society to evaluate progress and chart a more effective path forward.

The SARAH project itself is a comprehensive framework, focusing not just on GBV but on the interconnected pillars of reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health, alongside adolescent wellness. Its implementation in the northern states of Adamawa, Kwara, and Sokoto highlights a targeted approach to regions where complex socio-cultural and economic factors often exacerbate these challenges.

Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji moved beyond simple calls for awareness, emphasizing the need for sustained and meaningful community engagement. This is a crucial distinction. Effective GBV prevention requires shifting deep-seated social norms, not just disseminating information. It involves working with traditional leaders, religious figures, and local groups to redefine acceptable behavior and create community-owned solutions.

Echoing this, Hajia Hauwa’u Umar-Jabo, Director of Women in the ministry, provided concrete directives. She urged NGOs and community-based groups to prioritize establishing volunteer response teams. These local first responders are vital for several reasons: they are often the first point of contact for survivors, they understand local contexts, and they can provide immediate psychosocial support while guiding survivors to formal services.

Umar-Jabo addressed two of the most significant barriers to justice: the culture of silence and evidence tampering. She explicitly cautioned communities against concealing crimes like rape or interfering with evidence before investigations conclude. This interference, often motivated by stigma, fear, or attempts at informal settlement, fatally undermines prosecution. Her statement reframes the issue: protecting evidence is not just a legal formality but a communal responsibility to ensure perpetrators are held accountable, thereby deterring future violence.

The District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, provided a stark analysis of the root causes fueling GBV in the region: insecurity, economic hardship, harmful cultural practices, and weak enforcement mechanisms. His inclusion is pivotal, as traditional leaders wield immense influence. His call to action was equally systemic:

• Operationalizing GBV Desks: Strengthening dedicated GBV desks in police stations, schools, and health facilities is essential. A “GBV desk” must be more than a nameplate; it requires trained, empathetic personnel, clear protocols, and private spaces to ensure survivors feel safe to report and seek help.
• Policy Coherence and Accountability: He advocated for stronger policy alignment and accountability frameworks at both state and federal levels. This points to the need for laws that are not only passed but effectively implemented, funded, and monitored, with clear consequences for institutional failure.

The meeting’s participants—representing the Nigerian Police, NSCDC, various NGOs, CBOs, and government officials—symbolize the necessary multi-sectoral approach. GBV cannot be solved by one agency alone. Police need to collaborate with social workers, healthcare providers need to coordinate with legal aid services, and community leaders must work alongside all of them.

The collective pledge for increased commitment is a positive signal. However, the true measure of success will be in the tangible outcomes that follow: increased and safer reporting of GBV cases, higher prosecution and conviction rates, more survivors accessing comprehensive care (medical, psychosocial, legal), and a demonstrable shift in community attitudes that reject violence and support survivors. This meeting in Sokoto is a foundational step on that long but critical road.

HMH/BRM

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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani