A Non-governmental Organization, Aid Connect for Development said it has adopted community engagement as a lee way to address the current issues related to gender-based violence in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of the NGO, Mrs Habiba Ajifoh stated this on Tuesday when she led some of her members on a visit to the village head of Miri in his palace.
Ajifoh told the village head that, they were in his palace to solicit for his support on ways and means of curbing the alarming rate of rape and other gender-based violence in the society.
According to Ajifoh, her organization will work closely with women within the communities in order to successfully carry out its assignment.
Responding, the village head of Miri, Mal. Ismaila Inuwa Miri said that the move was a welcome development, pledging to support the NGO towards achieving its objectives.
Represented by Marafan Miri, Alhaji Bala Jibrin, the village head described rape and other gender-based violence as a menace that requires collective efforts to eradicate.
Also, the village head of Wuntin Dada while welcoming the NGO in his palace said his doors are opened for any input needed that will help in tackling gender-based violence.
He said as traditional leaders, they are in total support of every efforts geared towards mitigating or outright elimination of the menace.
In her remark, the Project Manager of the NGO, Abigail Hardo appealed to women not to hesitate to reveal incidences of gender-based violence happening around them.
She said that Aid Connect for Development has secured approval to sensitize the citizens of Miri and Wuntin Dada on the need for them to always expose the perpetrators of rape and other gender-based violence regardless of their family ties.
According to her, gender-based violence is not restricted to women alone, as men are also affected in some instances.
Some of the women who responded at the palaces of two village heads thanked the NGO for seeking for ways to end their pains.
The said that women are always at the receiving end, as they are mostly affected when it comes issues of rape and gender-based violence.
In the entourage, were officials of Bauchi state social welfare office.
