Muhammad Garba
Dozens of youths both males and females were mentored and mobilized to join campaigns against drug abuse, early marriage, gender-based violence, and other harmful cultural practices around their communities in Jigawa state.
The youths were mobilized and empowered by the Isa Wali Empowerment and Initiative Foundation with support from THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Speaking at a strategic and review meeting for final exit, the project Monitoring Officer, Khadija Lawan stated that, the aims and objectives of the program were to create public awareness of the need for everyone to join hands in fighting the menace of drug abuse, harmful Cultural Practices and other social vices in the community.
She explained that the program also supported the youth in the last six months on how to work toward advocating and supporting girl child education, discouraging unnecessary and other unworthy spending during ceremonies.
“The program was piloted in six communities of three local governments namely Dutse, Birninku, and Kiyawa, with 30 males, and 30 females, we had equally reached about 1.4 million people through media and other avenues with our public awareness campaign.
“We supported the establishment of Community cooperatives, advocating community demands to the authority, Join hands together in tackling the individual or community problems, as we are exiting we have confidence the community will sustain the work,” Khadija stated
In her testimony at the closing ceremony Safiyya Muhammad Kudai stated that now she has training on how to approach young and elderly with useful advice and also championing the discouraging of some harmful cultural practices “Indeed, it is making a difference now,” She declared.
Rabiu Ali, a 23-year-old said, with the training he received, he has already swung into action in advising his fellow youth against drug abuse, and other social vices in the society
In his testimony, Shamsu Umar of Shuwarin Community Kiyawa Local Government Area said the project has built his capacity on how to approach community problems for diplomatic and peaceful solutions, also vowed to continue promoting good Practices and discouraging harmful practices in the society.
However, Nafisa Abubakar of the same Shuwarin Community said, before the Isa Wali intervention I didn’t know we ladies have a role to play in fighting against the menace of drug abuse, early marriage, and gender-based violence, but now we are moulded and made to be champions of such struggle, Thanks to Isa Wali Foundation and our elders who supported us” She declared.
The members of the community vanguards mentored by the Isa Wali Initiative have promised to continue with the advocacy and public enlightenment on the area they were trained in in the absence of the foundation intervention., For peace stability and progress of their community.
