Kano- An NGO, Side-by-Side Movement for Gender Justice has trained traditional, religious, ethnic leaders and CSO’S representatives on gender-related concepts, leadership and the prevention of Gender-Based Violence(GBV) in Kano.
Speaking at the workshop in Kano, the Co-Chairman of the organisation, Rev. Samuel Adeyemo said that the project was supported by the Ford Foundation in collaboration with African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development.
He said that the workshop was organised to promote gender equality and challenge harmful gender stereotypes in Nigeria.
Adeyemo said that the movement was working hard to end all forms of gender-based violence within communities.
He said, “One of the beliefs of the movement is to sensitize the people of Kano State that both male and female, the boy and the girl child have value, worth, dignity and honour.
“With the understanding of this belief, we will create awareness that each person must be free from cultural and inter personal systems of privilege and oppression.
“It is also to advocate that all persons must be made free from violence and oppression due to their gender.
”Consequently, the side by side movement believes that gender identity should be a source of life and hope instead of oppression and fear.
“Furthermore, gender justice is the act of treating people with value and dignity.”
According to Adeyemo, each and every person must be free from interpersonal oppression, from violence and oppression based on gender or social status.
He said that the network was made up of religious leaders of both faiths; Muslims, Christians, people of faith and traditional institutions.
The co-chairman said that the centre recently got support from Ford Foundation to deepen its engagements in the two states of Kano and Benue.
He said that the project would work assiduously to increase awareness on the scourge of gende-r based violence that was ravaging the society.
Some of the participants who spoke to our correspondent commended the organisers of the training, which they described as timely.
They also promised to step down the knowledge with others in their various communities.
The workshop culminated in the formation of a State Steering Committee for the Side by Side movement in Kano.
