One in every three Nigerian women suffers from gender based violence (GBV) in her daily activities, the Chief Operating Officer, Bridge Connect Africa Initiative (BACI), Fatima Musa Aliyu has said.
She spoke at an event organized by BACI in Kano for 50 survivors of gender based violence to showcase their agro- related businesses, connect with potential customers and build partnerships for sustainable growth.
She decried the disturbing rate of gender-based-violence (GBV) in the society, noting that women’s economic empowerment remains the tool for addressing this disheartening challenge.
Aliyu explained that their project, Women Against Violence Empowered through Sustainability (WAVES) was designed to break the cycle of economic dependence which often renders women vulnerable to abuse.
She held that over the past months, a total of 50 women selected from 11 LGAs in the state have been trained in various businesses, climate-smart agriculture and how to prevent gender-based violence in their homes.
Mohammed Bello, the Coordinator of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, commended WAVES for the impact of their project and reaffirmed the commitment of the Canadian government to empowering women against GBV.
Dignitaries at the event included representatives of the Kano State government and Civil Society Organizations, including members of the organized private sector in the state.
