By Joseph Edegbo
As part of it’s Rise Up project implementation, Africa Media Development Foundation, AMDF has visited the Chairman Kaduna North Local Government Council, Murktar Baloni to acknowledge his commitment to fighting against Gender Based Violence.
Rise Up Project Leader and Manager,
Mr. Benjamin Maigari made the commendation during the visit along with some community leaders as well as representatives of Community Based Action Volunteers to intimate the Council of their activities, successes and challenges.
Mr. Maigari told the Chairman who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Community Relations, Adamu Saidu that the Rise Up is a one year advocacy project and would soon be over, stressing the need for continuity.
“I want to introduce the village heads and the COMBAV team officially to the local government to keep supporting them after the expiration of the project”, he said.
While assuring the LG of the AMDF continued support even after the expiration, the Project Manager called on the Council to create COMBAV team in all it’s communities and assign the existing COMBAV team with the responsibility of training them.
Responding, the Senior Special Assistant appreciated the visit and apologized on behalf of the Chairman whom he said was away for an emergency meeting at Government House.
Saidu said he would relay the message to the chairman, but pleaded with the AMDF to arrange for another visit with his Principal.
On their part, village Heads of Ung liman and Sarkin Hausawan Kaduna respectively appreciated AMDF and the Rise Up project for awakening them from their slumber, having realized that any form of violence against women and girls is a crime against humanity.
They said that their communities were now sanitized since the inception of the project as certain norms that were accepted before, are now being seen as violence against women and girls.
The VAPP law, they emphasized, has opened their eyes to understand government programmes and policies that have been put in place to protect all vulnerable groups.
The community leaders also appreciated the LG Chairman for his leadership qualities and inclusion.
The Rise Up Project which is being implemented by the AMDF in 12 communities, 6 each in Kaduna North and Kajuru Local Government Areas, is sponsored by the Public Health Institute of John Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States of America.