The Foundation for Community Empowerment Initiative (FOCEI), in collaboration with the Women Aid Collective (WACOL), on Monday organised a multi-level dialogue and sensitisation workshop in Gombe.
The workshop was organised with the theme: “Empowering Christian Women Leaders of Culture for Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence through the Strengthening of Grassroots Organisations.”
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the meeting brought together pastors, women leaders, security agencies, and civil society actors, all of whom pledged to collaborate in promoting gender justice, peaceful families, and stronger community systems to eliminate gender-based violence (GBV) in Gombe State.
Speaking during the event, the Team Lead of FOCEI, Benjamin Maina, highlighted the crucial roles of religious and traditional leaders in curbing gender-based violence.
“Religious leaders are expected to provide guidance and counselling,” Maina said. “They should promote cultures that protect women and girls.”
He added that religious and traditional leaders remain critical partners in addressing GBV at the community level.
“This project supported by WACOL, a women-led human rights organisation, is designed to mobilise faith-based leaders,” Maina added.
Also speaking, Gender Advisor of FOCEI, Asilina Pisaghi, while presenting on understanding gender-based violence, types, causes and impacts within communities urged for collective efforts.
Pisaghi said, “Without awareness and commitment, efforts to curb gender-based violence will not succeed.”
On her part, Dr Leah Jalo categorised gender-based violence into various forms, including denial of education and emotional abuse.
On the causes of GBV, Jalo identified patriarchy and rigid gender roles as major drivers.
“Gender-based violence in northern Nigeria is deeply rooted in culture,” she said. “It arises from the devaluation of women and the control over women’s bodies. To address it, we must empower women and girls, engage men to acknowledge there is a problem, and involve government and duty bearers to take action.”
Dr Jalo further outlined the impact of GBV on communities, citing psychological trauma, health complications, loss of income and productivity, educational setbacks, and cultural and economic consequences.
“GBV is not just a women’s issue; it requires cultural reorientation,” she added.
The District Head of Baule Tula, Ibrahim Hassan, emphasised the need to address both inter- and intra-conflicts among women, noting that such disputes can fuel gender-based violence.
Also, Martha Kudi pointed out that faith and culture strongly influence decisions taken by adherents, adding that fear of stigmatisation and injustice often perpetuate harm against survivors.
The District Head of Zambuk, Ibrahim Usman, expressed concern over situations where offenders are released without appropriate punishment, stressing that such actions encourage repeat offenses.
“When offenders are released without facing justice, it emboldens others to commit similar crimes,” he said.
Dr Jalo, while presenting a paper on Legal Framework and Policy Provisions on GBV Prevention and Response in Nigeria, noted that prevention remains the most effective strategy for ending violence.
“The best way to end GBV is to prevent it. But when it happens, we must punish offenders and support survivors,” she explained. “Prevention addresses root causes, while response ensures justice. The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act prohibits 26 forms of violence—but the question remains, are we implementing it?”
The Project’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Yohanna Hassan, also underscored the importance of community-based structures, noting that local awareness through workshops and seminars helps reduce GBV incidents.
“When a community has adequate knowledge, it becomes better equipped to prevent gender-based violence,” he said.
In her remarks, Executive Director of FOCEI, Rehab Loh, stressed the need to empower survivors with information and access to justice.
“We encourage survivors to speak out, they must not suffer in silence,” Loh said. “Community sensitisation should continue even in the face of stigma. Even after this two-year project ends, we must continue to address GBV issues in our communities.”
