36,044 people in Nguru and Yusufari Local Government Areas of Yobe State, North East Nigeria have been impacted by the Martawa Zuromaye (Dignity & Security) project, implemented by Non Governmental Organisation CARE Nigeria.
Funded by the U.S. Department of State,
through the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI), the Martawa Zuromaye (Dignity and Security) project which spanned four and a half years, empowered and built the capacity of beneficiaries, to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls (VAWG) in conflict-affected communities, through trauma-informed support, grassroots advocacy, legal reform, community mobilization, and women’s empowerment to create safer, more just communities.
Interim Country Director, CARE Nigeria, Jennifer Orgle addressing Government Partners, Civil Society Organizations, and Development Actors, at a close out and dissemination workshop in Abuja, said the project might have ended, but the mission to build safe, inclusive, and resilient communities continues, as women have been empowered to go and seek support and given skills to improve their incomes in communities where gender based violence was embedded in social norms.
“Today, we have had even some of the girls who have been survivors of violence now training as midwives in their communities, several of them who received skills have gone into some income-generating activities,”
While noting the importance of building the agency of women and girls, to recognise the power they have , Orgle added that the impacted communities had engaged in the dialogues carried out, social analysis and action plans and have put sustainability plans in place, to ensure that violence against women and girls is addressed from the grassroots upwards.
“we have worked not only with women and girls, we have worked with the men, the boys, with the different institutions; created alliances among them and among the women themselves and other institutions, and also strengthened the community structures because we have worked with community leaders, both at government level and at traditional level, to be able to support, to understand what the issues are, to raise issues of women…” She said
She further added that the project raised issues of women and strengthened institutions to not only protect women and girls, but also propel and create opportunities for women to play key leadership roles in development and humanitarian settings.
In a goodwill message, Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim commended CARE Nigeria for the impacts recorded in the benefitting communities, particularly in the areas of capacity building for policy development and sensitizing the people of Yobe State to understand and end violence against children, girls and women; a thematic area of the ministry which aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister noted that enlisting boys and men into the project had fostered better understanding of their roles and aided the dissermination of information and advocacy.
“We appreciate all the activities that they have carried out, and you can hear from their presentation that they have a sustainability plan. That sustainability plan, I am sure, will cascade down to so many areas within the Northeast,”
Represented by the Director Child Development Mr Andrew Madugu, she said the impact would create a positive spiral effect because once the vulnerability of the Northeast is taken care of, Nigeria will be better for it.
Yobe Government Review
The Yobe State Commissioner for Women Affairs Hajiya Ya Jalo Badama, appreciating Care Nigeria, shared that that the project not only provided critical support to survivors, but has also empowered communities to challenge and change harmful practices, by engendering an environment of safety, dignity and respect especially for women and girls, through unwavering dedication and strong collaboration.
She said, “Through the collaboration and dedication of Care Nigeria, and community partners African Youth for Peace Development and Empowerment Foundation (AFRYDEV), Trauma Healing Support Initiative (THSI), this project has not just provided essential support to survivors, but also impacted communities to challenge harmful practice, thereby fostering safety, respect and dignity particularly to the women and girls who has been affected,”
Represented by Director Women affairs Yobe State, Hajia Fatsuma Yusufari, she noted that “the strong support from the US Department State’s Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI), Yobe State Government and other organizations has strengthened safety for all individuals”.
Also speaking the Director, Rescue, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Jalo Ibrahim commended CARE Nigeria for supporting Yobe State’s passage of the VAPP Law and building institutional capacity, and affirmed commitment to the sustainability of the project going forward.
Project Impact Breakdown
Presenting the key project findings, achievements and impacts, CARE Martawa Zuromaye Project Team, comprising Dr. Abdullahi Momoh Jimoh, Raphael Joshua Ifenna and Anna Tarfa, revealed that individuals, most especially women and girls were empowered, through community mobilization, employing individual , Community and Systems level model and the provision of survivor-centered response services , to understand, identify and lead action against Voilence Against Women and Girls, Early and Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation and cutting ,to challenge harmful social norms.
Data breakdown indicates 36,044 lives reached, 7,945 women and girls supported in safe spaces, 393 women trained in life-changing vocational skills, 46 CSOs and community structures strengthened for VAWG response,500 Dignity kits distributed to women and girls, 2 Women and Girls Safe Spaces established and supporting the VAPP and Child Protection Laws domestication and subsequent dissemination in local languages across Yobe State.
The project impact also recorded significant shifts in social norms with 53% of participants now rejecting harmful practices like FGM/C and early marriage in the benefitting communities.
Workshop Overview
A panel session moderated by Martawa Zuromaye Program Manager Ruth Dede focusing on the project policy, advocacy and the government contribution stressed the need to build on the gains recorded by the project.
In their submissions, Executive Director, African Youths for Peace Development and Empowerment Foundation (AFRYDEV), Maryam Aje, ED, Zenith of the Girl Child and Women Initiative Support, Aishatu Kabu, Secretary, Yobe State Justice Sector Reform Team, Barr. Wakil Mustapha, Women Lead in Emergency (WLiE) Coordinator, Liatu Tinja and Chairperson, FIDA Abuja, Barrister Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, underscored the need to provide sustainable responsive compliance programme, financing, government ownership and laws that protect and sustain the gains made.
The closeout workshop brought together stakeholders, key implementing partners, representatives from development organizations, community leaders, survivor-led networks and government actors, who reaffirmed the critical role of collaboration, policy support, and local leadership in protecting and empowering women and girls.
CARE Nigeria is a non governmental organization with particular focus on women and girls,operating predominantly in the conflict-affected Northeast and Northwest regions of the country to provide lifesaving emergency services in the communities through Humanitarian, Development, Health, Gender Justice, Women Economic Justice, Food Nutrition and Security, Sexual Reproductive Health and Right, Partnership Engagement implement development and humanitarian relief assistance to affected populations in Nigeria.
Olusola Akintonde