New Programme Launched to Combat Gender-Based Violence in Kano and Jigawa

The Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), a non-profit entity, has introduced a programme specifically designed to combat gender-based violence (GBV) within Kano and Jigawa states.

The programme, named Grannies Network for Change (G-NEC), commenced its operations in Kano on Monday. Its core mission is to empower grandmothers to play an active role in addressing the escalating problem of gender-based violence prevalent in the North-west geopolitical zone.

The Kano State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Amina Sani, highlighted that the programme strategically focuses on grandmothers due to their significant role as primary "custodians of culture and moral values" within their communities.

According to the commissioner, the project's approach is built upon extensive research findings by the dRPC.

This research indicated that within households comprising multiple generations, grandmothers exert the most substantial influence over gender norms and practices, thereby significantly impacting the lives of wives and daughters.

Mrs. Sani explained, "While men might be swayed by religious and community leaders, within the domestic sphere, the grandmother remains the most dominant voice guiding decisions and reinforcing them through the lens of tradition and culture."

She further noted that grandmothers command considerable respect within their communities and are thus ideally positioned to assume an authoritative stance in preventing gender-based violence.

The commissioner characterized the initiative as a "pioneering effort," emphasizing that it is tailored to resonate with the social fabric of northern Nigeria, where elders are traditionally esteemed for their wisdom and guidance.

"The project is indeed unique and a pioneering effort of its kind. It’s a household-centered and community-level intervention anchored in the realities of our tradition and social structures, where elders are revered for their wisdom," she added.

Core Objectives

The fundamental aim of this initiative is to dismantle harmful gender norms by strategically influencing the established domestic hierarchy.

By actively engaging grandmothers, the project intends to redirect decision- making processes among men within households towards more equitable and secure practices.

"Its core objective is to prevent GBV by transforming norms, beliefs, and decision-making processes among men in the household through the positive influence and support of the grandmothers, using messages that align with cultural values," the commissioner stated.

She expressed gratitude to the dRPC for introducing this programme to Kano and Jigawa states.

Hadiza Abdulwahab, the Commissioner for Women Affairs from Jigawa State, reaffirmed her state government's dedication to supporting the project.

Speaking through the Director of Planning, Aminu Umar, Mrs. Abdulwahab indicated that the initiative would prioritize the protection of both young girls and married women.

She also mentioned that in addition to tackling violence, the project aims to significantly enhance the enrollment rates of girls in schools across Jigawa State.

"The Jigawa State government pledged to provide all necessary support to the Development Research and Projects Center (dRPC) to ensure the programme’s success. Jigawa state intended to institutionalise the initiative, ensuring its sustainability well beyond the initial project timeframe", Mrs Umar said.

More About the Programme

In a statement issued on Monday, Judith-Ann Walker, the executive director of dRPC, articulated that the project seeks to cultivate a more secure environment and foster lasting social change.

"Accordingly, the goal of GNEC is to, among other things, support three new low-level leadership groups within traditional society – grandmothers and local-level village heads and village Imams- as male allies who have been neglected in past GBV projects, to become champions, influencing behavioural change and shifting gender norms to prevent GBV, exacerbated by economic rights denials that leads to poor girl’s education and early marriages in the states."

"The New GNEC Project also aims to strengthen the capacities of grandmothers at the state and local levels to influence the behavioural change of husbands within households in order for wives to have economic rights and for girl children to attend school."

"In the first year of the New GNEC Project, the project will identify and work in six villages in Kano State, and four in Jigawa State, where husbands are known for not supporting their wives economically, and wives are forced to be breadwinners, and also communities where husbands are not supportive of their daughters’ education."

"The six villages in Kano State and the four villages in Jigawa State that are selected must also be communities where the local level village heads and local Friday Mosque Imams can participate in the project. As they participate in this project, they are being trained on GBV, economic rights and girls’ education", Ms Judith-Ann stated.