The development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) is partnering with the Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue at Bayero University, Kano, to integrate the voices of Muslim Opinion Leaders in fighting Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria.

In a meeting to introduce the project to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Sagir Adamu Abbas, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Academics, Professor Sani Muhammad Gumel, the dRPC team I introduced the Muslim Opinion Leaders project, which aims to galvanise the voices of MOLs to support the fight against gender-based violence through peer-to-peer learning in Egypt and through mass mobilisation in citizens to understand and appreciate the position of Islam on fight GBV.

The dRPC team also humbly requested the University’s invaluable collaboration through the centre to conduct research on what Islam says about GBV. This research will play a pivotal role in informing society’s participation in the fight against all forms of GBV.

The team also appreciated the Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue’s series of seminars and workshops on GBV, extremism, and other social issues.

The Ag VC, Professor Gumel, welcomed the dRPC team and assured them of the University’s readiness to work with them to promote gender equity, create a violence-free society, and fight gender-based violence in Nigeria.

The meeting agreed to continue working together to identify other Islamic opinion voices that would form part of the cohort, propagate Islamic perspectives on GBV, and support collaborative efforts to promote the rights of women in Nigeria.