GBV: Sultan Urges Stakeholders To Focus More On Family Institution, Children

By; SULEIMAN ADAMU, Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has urged stakeholders to be steadfast and focus more on family institution as pillar of societal growth and development in the drive against Gender Based Violence (GBV).

He said the family institution remains a core setting that needs attention as custodian of personal and societal values , morality and discipline.

” We all need to protect and provide hitch free environment for our families and children to feel secured and safe against all vices especially GBV”, the revered monarch stressed.

Abubakar spoke on Monday in Sokoto, when he received on courtesy call, the Ford Foundation /DRPC Muslim Opinion Leaders for the Prevention of GBV in Northern Nigeria.

He noted that the family which played critical role in shaping societal values also occupied an important space in promoting safer environment devoid of GBV.

” The family institution needs to be protected to enable social justice and rid the society of complexities and issues related to GBV”, he pointed out while reaffirming the sultanate commitment to addressing GBV related issues inorder to also overcome problems affecting children education among other critical issues.

” Family concerns and security are core aspects that define the peace, growth and developments of a nation.

” We are in tune with the crusade and we call for genuine and committed implementation that drive societal oriented initiatives so that our efforts would hit the ground running towards addressing GBV and related social issues”, he urged.

Speaking, leader of the team of delegation, Oumar Ndiaye, Programme Officer of Ford Foundation, explained that the foundation was passionate and in collaboration with related organisations and institutions to drive socially related and development initiatives that benefits the society.

” The essence of our coming is to further deepen robust collaboration and synergy towards achieving the desired object of the foundation. The traditional institution as the Sultanate is a very essential integral structure that can be heard”, he mentioned.

In the same vein, Professor Taofeek Abubakar, Director Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue, Bayero University Kano said they were driving the crusade with the family structure in the islamic perspective with a view to refocusing more on the legal aspects with strategic efforts.

Also, an opinion leader and FOMWAN Kano chapter Legal Adviser in the team, Barrister Aisha Ali said the reformation of judicial justice was key aspect being driven to address litigations on matters related to personal status of families and women status on domestic violence and maltreatment issues.

” This is aimed at also tackling issues of women not accessing justice and other cumbersome aspects including hardships”, She stated while disclosing that so far, 50 GBV issues from the islamic perspective concerning women were resolved at intervals.