FCT WOMEN AFFAIRS SECRETARIAT LEADS HIGH-LEVEL ADVOCACY TO SARKIN JIWA IN DRIVE TO END SGBV
By: Adeyemi Oluwakemi
In an effort aimed at ending Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, in collaboration with the FCT Social Development Secretariat and with support from International IDEA, on Tuesday 13th October, paid a high-level courtesy visit to His Royal Highness, Sarkin Jiwa, Agaba of Jiwa, Alhaji Dr. Idris Musa (MFR).
The event, which took place at the Sarkin Jiwa Palace in Abuja, targeted engaging traditional institutions and community structures as critical partners in the High-Level Advocacy on Prevention and Response to SGBV, while soliciting royal support for the inauguration of a Community Protection Committee in the chiefdom.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Women Affairs Secretariat, Hajia Asmau Mukhtar, Esq., who led the delegation, said that the Administration under HE Nyesom Wike has demonstrated its passion for protecting the dignity, safety and well-being of women, girls, children and other vulnerable members of society through decisive action against gender-based violence.
In her remarks, she conveyed warm greetings from the Honourable Minister of the FCT and the leadership of the FCT Administration. She emphasised the critical role of traditional institutions in safeguarding communities, noting that gender-based violence remains one of the most pervasive and destructive challenges facing the Territory.
“It destroys lives, tears families apart and undermines peace and development. We have received several complaints and recorded high figures of SGBV across the entire FCT. No community is immune,” Hajia Asmau stated.
She explained that Jiwa Chiefdom had been selected as the pilot location, with plans to extend the initiative to other Area Councils and chiefdoms. The focus, she said, is to strengthen community protection systems, deepen understanding of the issues and forge practical partnerships that keep people safe.
The Permanent Secretary urged traditional councils and community structures to institutionalise clear mechanisms for early detection, reporting and referral of cases. “Let no survivor be turned away or silenced in the name of ‘family matters.’ Let no perpetrator hide behind customary practices that have outlived their usefulness,” she declared.
She pledged technical support, capacity building and continuous engagement so that Jiwa community can become a reference point for effective, culturally grounded protection against SGBV in the Federal Capital Territory, while calling for the active involvement of men and boys as allies in promoting positive masculinity, respect and consent.
Representing the Senior Programme Manager, International IDEA, Dr. Juliet Olumuyiwa Rufai (Component 2 Lead) explained that the European Union-supported programme aims to end sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria. International IDEA, she noted, works in several countries and partners with the Nigerian government to strengthen legal frameworks, establish and improve survivor services (medical care, psychosocial support, access to justice and temporary shelter), and mobilise community leaders, civil society and government for sensitisation.
Dr. Rufai highlighted the severity of the problem, citing cases ranging from the sexual molestation of a three-month-old baby to that of an 82-year-old grandmother, as well as deaths resulting from domestic violence involving both men and women.
She stressed that SGBV must not be “swept under the carpet” because of its life-threatening consequences. She appealed to His Royal Highness to identify passionate community members with compassion and listening skills to serve on the Community Protection Committee. These members will be trained on survivor-centred approaches and referral pathways.
Dr. Rufai expressed the hope that the traditional ruler would inaugurate the committee, thereby signalling strong traditional leadership behind the campaign.
In his response, His Royal Highness,Sarkin Jiwa, Alhaji Dr. Idris Musa (MFR), condemned all forms of violence against women and children, framing sexual violence as a preventable, largely man-made social pathology rather than a divine affliction. Quoting the WHO definition of health, he stressed that living with violence means one is not healthy. He identified key drivers as unemployment and idle youth, poverty, family breakdown, government delays in leading responses, and the demographic pressures created by large inflows of people into the FCT from other states and neighbouring countries.
While affirming the community’s readiness to support genuine efforts against SGBV, he insisted on transparency, continuous presence and real partnership. He made it clear that Jiwa would not serve merely as a photo opportunity for donor funding, particularly from the European Union, and that any committee established must be supervised and sustained rather than abandoned after inauguration.
Government involvement, he said, was the decisive factor that made him willing to engage.
In a vote of thanks, Mrs. Olubunmi Olowokere, Permanent Secretary, FCT Social Development Secretariat, expressed appreciation to Sarkin Jiwa and the entire leadership of the chiefdom for the warm reception and for the opportunity to partner in the fight against SGBV.
