The launch of the first club took place at the National Women’s Conference on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, hosted at the headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abuja.
The theme of the conference was “Enhancing Capacity and Mainstreaming Gender Effectively Within and Beyond the Workplace.”
The inauguration of the initiative was led by Ahmed Audi, the Commandant General (CG) of the NSCDC.
During his speech, CG Audi emphasized the crucial role of education in shaping perspectives. He stated that the introduction of SGBV Clubs in schools is a vital measure to cultivate a culture of respect, understanding, and empathy among students.
Audi expressed that the SGBV club is more than just an initiative, it’s a movement. Our schools should be spaces where young minds are nurtured to reject violence, discrimination, and inequality. It’s a collective effort to educate, empower, and build a generation that opposes all forms of gender-based violence.
He underscored the significance of recognizing that empowering women is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic move to enhance capacity across all aspects of life.
The CG acknowledged the invaluable contributions of women to societies, economies, and cultures.
Highlighting the NSCDC Gender Policy, which was launched and adopted on July 15, 2021, with funding from the governments of Norway and Germany, as well as the United Nations Women and Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN), CG Audi portrayed it as a substantial step in addressing SGBV issues.
Addressing the conference, Sen George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), emphasized that both women and men can be victims of SGBV. However, Prof Bolaji Babatunde, Senior Special Assistant on Technical duties to the SGF, highlighted the greater vulnerability of women to this social menace.
Babatunde advocated for increased funding and prioritized training of security agencies to effectively combat SGBV in schools and workplaces. He emphasized the necessity of accountability frameworks and the establishment of mechanisms for implementing and monitoring duties.
Assistant Commandant of Corp (ACC) Ajet Kemi, the Head of NSCDC Gender Desk, welcomed the initiative, describing the clubs as beacons of awareness, education, and support. Kemi expressed optimism that the SGBV clubs would empower students to resist gender-based violence, fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and accountability within Nigeria’s educational institutions.
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