GBV: Kebbi, other northern states govs’ wives collabo British High Commission

The wive of Kebbi State Governor, Dr.Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, has expressed optimism that the collaboration between the British High Commission and Northern Governor’s Wives Forum would yield positive results in addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV) especially in northern Nigeria.

A press statement from Yahya Sarki, special adviser on media to Kebbi state governor revealed that Dr. Bagudu who is also the founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation made the assertion when the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing hosted some Northern Governor’s Wives in Abuja on Thursday.

She said British and Nigeria have long existing relationship on issues of economic and human development hence the need for closer collaboration between the two countries to stop gender based violence in Nigeria.

She expressed gratitude to UK in Nigeria on behalf of the governors’ wives saying , “I want to say a very big thank you to UK in Nigeria, the ties between the British and Nigeria dates back a very long time in history, our president was there few weeks ago for some important sessions, and we are here today, we look to more collaboration and progress to our countries,” she said.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, while with some Northern governors’ wives, she hosted discussed how to collaborate on GBV, targeting women and children in northern Nigeria.

The meeting called for partnership with all government officials, stakeholders, community leaders, to stop all manners of gender based violence in the country, most especially in the north.

The parley was chaired by the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mrs. Laing, in the presence of Wife of Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, Wife of Gombe State Governor, Hajiya Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya and Wife of Borno State Governor Falmata Mara Zulum.

Others were Wife of Kwara State Governor Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazak, Wife of Nasarawa State Governor, Salifat Sule and Wife of Benue State Governor Mrs. Eunice Ortom.

At the end of the meeting, the governors’ wives expressed their optimism that they would engage traditional and religious rulers, leaders of communities in tackling the menace and scourge of the violence in northern Nigeria.

When asked on the security aspect of it considering the large number of women and children are in IDPs more especially in Borno state, the wife of Borno state governor Hajiya Falmata Zulum who is the vice chairperson of the forum, said they already engaged the security personnel, community leaders, most especially top government officials.

Mid last year, 36 first ladies protested against GBV.

Afterwards, they made their position known in a statement.

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