Kano, Nigeria – 17th February 2025
The development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), through its Muslim Opinion Leaders (MOLs) for the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence Project, funded by the Ford Foundation, is partnering with the Women’s Organization for Relief and Empowerment (WORE), led by the Wife of the Emir of Kano, Her Royal Highness (HRH) Hajiya Maryam Sanusi, to conduct research and implement interventions aimed at addressing the rising cases of domestic violence, sexual harassment, and other forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kano State.
This partnership was formalized following a series of consultative meetings between the dRPC MOLs team, including Barr. Aisha Tijjani and Dr. Taufiq Abubakar Hussain, and WORE representatives, including Prof. Aisha Abdu Ismail and Dr. Maryam Nasir Aliyu, during which priority areas for collaboration were identified.
The partnership will focus on three key interventions:
- Sensitization of Religious Leaders: Engaging religious leaders ahead of the upcoming Ramadan period to integrate messages on the Islamic perspective on GBV into tafseer and other religious sessions.
- Engagement with Traditional Leaders: Conducting sensitization sessions with traditional leaders to promote a better understanding of the Islamic stance on GBV and strengthen their role in fostering community awareness and response.
- Research on Domestic Violence and Sexual Harassment: Conducting an in-depth study to investigate the underlying causes of the rising incidents of domestic violence and sexual harassment, particularly cases involving minors in Kano State.
Her Royal Highness Hajiya Maryam Sanusi, wife of the Emir of Kano, Founding Member, and Acting President of WORE, reiterated her commitment to working closely with the dRPC to combat GBV and promote the safety and well-being of women and children in the state.
The partnership was further reinforced through a courtesy visit paid by the dRPC team, alongside Muslim Opinion Leaders, to Her Royal Highness on 28th January 2025, followed by a subsequent meeting held on 17th February 2025 to review progress and map out the next steps.
