By
Babangida Galleon
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has restated his administration’s commitment to preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls in the State.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri made the commitment during the closing and award night ceremony marking the end of 16 days activism on Gender Based Violence organized by the State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with partners.
In his speech titled “Our Girls Our Treasure”, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government , Barrister Auwal Tukur Said Government is fully committed to addressing the root causes and underlining factors of Gender Based Violence in the state.
He said government can achieve that through the enactment and significant improvement to it’s laws, institution and the provisions of free education, especially for girls in the state.
Fintiri who received Champion award for his unwavering dedication to promoting gender equality and empowering women in Adamawa State revealed that since the first day of his administration he has maintained zero tolerance policy towards all forms of violence.
According to him, his administration has recognized women as critical stakeholders in decision making and leadership, saying that Government in the state has aimed at empowering women and girls through poverty alleviation programmes both in rural and urban communities.
He thanked the development partners and women groups for contributing to the fight against GBV in the state.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Wunfe Anthony, revealed that this year’s campaign with a theme “Unite, Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls” brought together men and women irrespective of religion or ethnicities who have showed commitment to end Gender Based Violence in the state.
She appreciated the Governor and his wife Lami Ahmadu Fintiri, for leading the campaign against GBV and the UNFPA, UNDP, GBV subsector and women groups for making the event remarkable and memorable.
In their separate speeches, representatives of the development partners, UNFPA, UNDP, and NCWS maintained that the theme of the 16 days activism was timely and one of their transformative agenda, to end GBV and other harmful traditional practices.
They appreciated Adamawa State Government for its tireless efforts towards advancement of human rights and call on stakeholders and the citizens to put hands on deck in order to eradicate all forms of violence against women and girls.
Other recipients of the awards included; Adamawa State Deputy Governor Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, who received award of Gender Ambassador, for being the first female Deputy Governor in Adamawa State.
The speaker Adamawa State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley and the State Assembly majority leader Kate Mamuno, for quality and effective representation and fighting GBV.
Pro Life Initiative, for investing in the lives of vulnerable women in the state and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who also received award for their role in the fight against GBV.
