The Kaduna State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development (MHSSD) with support from the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) with funding from the Ford Foundation organized a two-experience-sharing workshop for the Commissioners of Women Affairs and Education of the North-western States.
Objectives of the Workshop
The workshop’s overall objective is to collectively share experiences and advocate against the prevailing harmful traditional practice of early and forced girl-child marriage in North-western Nigeria.
The Workshop
Commissioners of Women’s Affairs and Education from the Northwest and other Traditional title holders at the event with the Kaduna State Deputy Governor in the middle.
The workshop was graced by the Acting Governor of Kaduna State Her Excellency Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, Honourable Commissioners of Kaduna State Ministries Human Services and Social Development (MHSSD), Health, Education, and Local Government Affairs. Representatives of the Commissioners’ Women’s Affairs and Education across the five (6) North-western States of Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara and Sokoto were in attendance. The workshop was also attended by the Director General of the Kaduna State Disability Affairs Board, Traditional Leaders:
Dan Makoyon Zazzau/Hakimin Kawo, Bunun Zazzau/Hakimin Doka, Donor Partners: United Nation Populations Fund (UNFPA), Center for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP), Civil Society Organizations and the Media Houses.
The Deputy Governor expressed the commitment of the Kaduna State government to protecting the right of children and promoting their well-being as responsible. The government will continue to protect the girl child until she reaches her potential in whatever field she desires. While commending the Ministry of Human Services, the dRPC, and the Ford Foundation for supporting the workshop, she promised to take the decision of the Northwest Commissioners of Women Affairs and Education to the next Northern Governors Forum for deliberation and adoption of the recommendations.
Earlier, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Human Services, Hajiya Hafsat Baba disclosed that the decision to partner with the dRPC and the Ford Foundation stemmed from the commitment of the ministry to collaborate to rid the state of cases of early child marriage which she said has devastated the future of many bright girls in the state.
