KWARA GOVERNMENT EXPANDS COMMUNITY STRUCTURES TO COMBAT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
Read Time:2 Minute, 55 Second
By: Balogun Ibrahim
The Kwara State Government on Monday expressed support for emerging community-based reporting systems aimed at tackling gender-based violence (GBV), as stakeholders showcased growing evidence of impact across several communities in the state.
The endorsement was made at the second GBV Prevention Statewide Event held at the Kwara State Banquet Hall in Ilorin, where more than 200 participants, including 17 traditional rulers, gathered to assess progress under a two-year prevention programme implemented by Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative with support from the Ford Foundation.
Central to the discussion was the Alalubosa community, where a GBV reporting desk established less than two years ago has documented 12 cases, with 10 already resolved through community-led intervention mechanisms.
The desk, chaired by the community’s Mogaji, is among several grassroots structures created to strengthen early reporting, response, and accountability in GBV cases.
Commissioner for Social Development, Mariam Imam, said the initiative aligns with the state’s efforts to improve access to justice and protection for vulnerable groups.
She noted that the government is committed to partnering with Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative to ensure victims receive justice while preventive mechanisms are strengthened.
Stakeholders also highlighted similar structures in Agbarere, Ilorin West LGA, and Ganmo in Ifelodun LGA, where locally developed social charters and marriage agreements are being used to address domestic violence and encourage behavioural change.
In Alalubosa, newly married couples are required to sign community agreements outlining penalties for spousal abuse, while trained community ambassadors continue awareness campaigns.
Organisers said these interventions stem from sustained engagement with traditional institutions and grassroots actors across the state’s three senatorial districts.
READ MORE…
PRO-EU MAGYAR PROMISES NEW ERA IN HUNGARY AFTER OUSTING ORBAN
Executive Director of Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, Nurah Jimoh-Sanni, said the programme has moved beyond awareness creation to measurable community action.
She cited a recent sexual violence case in one participating community where residents insisted on formal reporting, leading to the suspect’s arrest and prosecution instead of informal settlement.
Community Engagement Officer, Ahmad Adebowale, said traditional rulers are now taking active ownership of the initiative by convening stakeholders and enforcing community charters.
The programme has also facilitated the development of 20 GBV prevention messages in local languages, including Yoruba and Nupe, following engagements with traditional leaders across the state.
The Emir of Ilorin, represented by the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin Emirate, Usman Atolagbe Abubakar Jos, also reaffirmed support for the initiative during a panel session on the role of traditional institutions in addressing GBV.
A Yoruba-language version of the GBV Prevention Advocacy Toolkit was also launched at the event to deepen community outreach.
University of Ilorin scholar, Prof. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi, highlighted the critical role of grassroots leadership in shaping social norms, noting that many survivors first seek help within their communities.
She stressed that community leadership remains central to changing attitudes toward GBV.
The Ford Foundation reaffirmed its support for preventive approaches, saying its focus is on stopping violence before it occurs.
Organisers said the initiative is now transitioning from pilot implementation to wider expansion across more communities in the state.
They also introduced an AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot to support victims of technology-facilitated GBV and announced the formation of a 21-member multi-stakeholder committee to coordinate response efforts.
The event ended with participants signing a public commitment board and making video pledges to sustain advocacy against gender-based violence across Kwara State.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0