The UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in collaboration with the Government of Japan has inaugurated a project to empower women and girls in marginalised communities in three states within one year.
The project would be implemented in Delta, Gombe, and Bauchi states by UNESCO with funding from the Government of Japan.
The project tagged: “Japan-UNESCO project on Empowerment of Women and Girls in Marginalised Communities for Better Well-being through Education and Advocacy’’ was inaugurated virtually on Tuesday.
In the three states, 690 women and girls including SGBV survivors, 300 learners for second chance education would benefit, while 150 survivors per state would be given psycho-social rehabilitation services.
Also, 45 facilitators would be trained on COVID-19 prevention, while 45 media persons would be given training on SBGV reportage amongst other training for Non-Governmental Organisations and community groups.
Officer-in-charge of UNESCO, Abuja Regional Office, Mr. Dimitri Sanga said that the collaboration between UNESCO and Japan was necessary to fast-track growth and improve the lives of women and girls in the three states.
According to him, the project would also build the capacity of community media and balance gender-based violence reportage, development of COVID-19 preventive messages, and advocate for the rights of women and girls.
“The partnership between UNESCO and Japan in this regard would help alleviate poverty and improve the lives of citizens which ultimately would contribute to peace, stability and inclusive growth.
“The project would help create a healthy society to actualize the 2030 agenda as the intervention targeted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) one, three, four, and 16.
“The project was aimed at creating awareness and strategies on addressing the impact of COVID-19 and providing training on preventive measures to women and girls through second-chance education and advocacy.
“It would also increase awareness on gender-based violence amongst young women facing marginalization”, Sanga said.
He said that the project would also provide psycho-social rehabilitation in support of long-term recovery of women and girls survivors of Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
Sanga urged the Gombe State Government to key into the project by providing the necessary support to ensure proper implementation for the benefits of women and girls in the state.
In a remark, Mr Shinozawa Takayuki, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria said the collaboration was to promote gender equality and socio-economic empowerment of women and girls in the three states.
“The large number of out-of-school which had mostly affected women and girls compounded by the lockdown due to COVID-19 had contributed to the increase of SGBV, hence the intervention.
“Unfortunately, reported cases of gender-based violence in marginalised communities have increased.
“It is in recognition of this that the Government of Japan is partnering with UNESCO to empower women and girls in Bauchi, Delta, and Gombe states.
“The project will raise awareness on SGBV among the public and protect women and girls from such violence,” Takayuki said.
He said that the intervention would provide psychological support and rehabilitation for women and girls, SGBV survivors, and second-chance education for women and girls.
Takayuki added that the project would alleviate the increasing social tension worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also speaking, the Gombe State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr. Julius Ishaya, expressed appreciation to UNESCO and Japan.
“The choice of Gombe State for the implementation of the project was apt in view of the decade-long impact of the insurgency on the state being geographically-centered in the Northeast.
“The Gombe State Government had been doing a lot to promote girl-child education and welfare of women in the state and would welcome and support any partnership to strengthen those achievements”, Ishaya said.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
Latest posts by Hassan Umar Shallpella (Regional Correspondent) (see all)
- Pollution: Ogun State Government Clamp Down On Three Churches - April 24, 2024
- Troops Rescues 44 Women, and Children In Timbuktu Triangle - April 24, 2024
- Sokoto State: 15 District Heads Fired - April 24, 2024
previous
National Human Rights Commission In Kano State Receives 276 Cases In Three Months
next
