UNESCO, Japan Govt empower women in Gombe, Delta, Bauchi
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in partnership with Japan Government says more Nigerian women and girls have been empowered.
Speaking during the presentation of end-line and closing ceremony of the project in Gombe, Senior Programme Specialist Magdalene Anene-Maidoh, revealed that the project developed a training manual titled A Gender-Based Violence Manual which was used by the CSOs and other stakeholders in training other partners in their community.
Anene-Maidoh said UNESCO had last year inaugurated the project to empower women and girls in marginalised communities in Gombe, Bauchi and Delta states for Better well-being through education and advocacy.
She revealed that the project had also succeeded in increasing awareness on gender-based violence amongst young women facing marginalisation.
According to her, “The project was aimed at creating awareness and strategies on addressing the impact of COVID-19 and providing training on preventive measures to women and girls through second chance education and advocacy, had recorded tremendous success in Gombe.
“Provide psychosocial rehabilitation in support of the long-term recovery of women and girl survivors of SGBV
Build the capacity of community media on balanced SGBV reportage, development of COVID-19 prevention messages; and to advocate for the rights of women.”
The Senior Programme Specialist revealed that the project’s implemented strategy was on three pillars, adding that alot was achieved in empowering more women and girls.
“Pillar one; Conduct Non-formal education (NFE) for women and girls
Incorporate C-19 in existing NFE modules
Training and capacity building of facilitators to use C-19 modules
Systems strengthening for NFE management.
“Pillar two; Capacity building for community media personnel on reportage on SGBV and C-19.
Advocacy, knowledge creation, policy dialogue, capacity building of stakeholders.
“Pillar three; Psychosocial support and rehabilitation using creative mechanisms for long-term healing/ recovery.
Strengthen/form coalition of women and girls rights NGOs/stakeholders to prevent SGBV, C-19 and counter mis/disinformation,” Anene-Maidoh said.
She added that no fewer than 99 women and girls out of 100 learners completed the 6-month basic literacy course, which included the innovative Covid-19 content, transformation of the learners into advocates for Covid-19 prevention in their communities.
Also speaking Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, lauded the successes that the partnership between his country and UNESCO has yielded.
Kazuyoshi commended the Gombe State Government for supporting the full implementation of the project.
“Japan is working to help Nigerian women and girls to endure the crisis, recover from its effect and become resilient to future crises,” the diplomat added.
On his part, Commissioner for Education, Dauda Batari commended the efforts of the partnership, adding that it has multiple effects in the educational sector.
He disclosed that through awareness campaign embarked upon by the ministry the communities were able to embrace the project.
