By KEMI KASUMU
In advancing his commitment to security and safety across gender and sections under the purview of his administration, Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Mohammed, has inaugurated a Committee for the Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Children.
Mallam Yusuf Idris Gusau, the Director General, Media, Public Enlightenment and Communications, Government House, disclosed this in a statement he issued in Gusau, on Monday and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER.
According to the DG, Governor Mohammed, who is Mutawallen Maradun, at the ceremony also reiterated his government’s resolve in giving fair represention to women through appointments and targeted social intervention schemes “so as to make them less susceptible to all forms of manipulation.”
He said as a responsible government ever willing to safeguard the lives of its people and promoting their wellbeing, it will take decisive steps to bring an end to the culture of violence against women and children whom he said have suffered enough from displacement and other difficult conditions as a result of banditry in some communities of the state.
He assured that his government would continue to collaborate with non-governmental groups in developing the needed synergy to achieve desired objective of creating awareness on the plight of women and children as well as ways of combatting the problems.
The governor noted that Islam has already given women a pivotal of nursing and nurturing the society which the government will build on, especially by using the woman virtues to eradicate banditry and bring development to the gold rich state.
He said his administration was implementing a women empowerment programme piloted by the First Lady and that it was also restructuring the Ministry of Women Affairs to include children, while continuing to target women and children with appropriate policies that will improve their lots and promote the wellbeing of the society.
Matawalle also assured that his administration will remain committed to preventing violence against women and sustain the current efforts to identify ways of mitigating these heinous crimes against humanity as well as execute all legislations relating to issues of children and women.
According to him, already, the State House of Assembly is working on the domestication of the Child Rights Act to which he promised to assent into law as soon as it is passed by the House.
Other proposed legislations such as Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and New Model Penal Code would equally be given due consideration as soon as the legislative processes are completed calling on the general public, most especially parents, guardians, teachers and other community leaders to be alive to their responsibility of ensuring that women and children are protected against all forms of violence, molestation and abuse.
In her speech, the First Lady of the state, Hajiya Aisha Bello Matawalle who is also the Chairperson of the Committee, commended the governor for his unflinching support in the fight against gender-based violence against women and children in the state.
She lauded the Matawalle led administration’s direction in improving the standard of living of the citizens of the state especially women and children.
While assuring to do her best in discharging the responsibility of the 22-member Committee to free the state from all forms of gender-based violence, the first lady implored people of the state particularly women at high levels to educate parents and guardians on the dangers of gender-based violence especially against women and children.
The inaugural event was attended by the State Deputy Governor, Barr. Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, Speaker, Zamfara State House of Assembly, Hon Nasiru Maazu Magarya, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru, Deputy Chief of Staff Government House, Dr. Bashir Mohammed Maru, Commissioners and Special Advisers among others.
