AGILE Project trains traditional rulers, focal persons to strengthen community grievances, GBV in Sokoto

The Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project has commenced the training of 65 focal persons to strengthen their ability to handle grievances and cases of gender-based violence (GBV).

The training focuses on the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) that brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, education officers and community stakeholders.

The Sokoto State Coordinator of AGILE, Dr. Mansur Buhari, said the initiative was designed to ensure that all grievances arising from schools and host communities are properly managed to prevent escalation.

“Our intention is to train focal persons across the 23 local government areas so they can step down the training to school-level GRM officers.

“This mechanism ensures that any complaint—whether related to gender-based violence, safety or general school concern is handled promptly and professionally.

“With the current security realities in schools, we need structures that allow intelligence and complaints to be managed early before issues worsen.” he said.

Buhari added that traditional rulers were deliberately involved because of their influence at the grassroots.

“Whenever we have a message for the communities, we work with the traditional institution to make sure it gets to the people directly,” he said.

Also speaking, the National GRM Officer for AGILE, Emmanuel Erinms, said initiative was to support the state’s project implementation unit to facilitate who to obtain complains and resolved them without disrupting implementation the project.

“Our goal is to make sure every stakeholder understands the channels available for lodging grievances and how they can be addressed amicably.” he said.

Prof. Ladan Ala, the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education reatraited the government committed to strengthening the education sector through reforms and innovations.

The commissioner, represented by the Director of Administration of the ministry, Umar Salame, noted that government teams had recently visited schools in Bindi, Issa and Buda as part of broader monitoring efforts.

Earlier, the District Head of Shuni, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers at the event, commended AGILE for its efforts and pledged continued support of the traditional institution to ensure the project succeeds.

The Executive Secretary of the Female Education Board, Prof. Mustapha Namakka, said the workshop aligns with the board’s annual activities aimed at addressing challenges affecting women and adolescent girls.

He commended the District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar Jabbi, for consistently supporting initiatives that promote the education and welfare of girls in the state.

Vice Chancellor alleges political reasons in protest, urges union to seek redress from state government

Prof. Muhammad Bello Yarima, the Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University (SSU) has alleged political connections over the recent protest conducted by the varsity joint unions.

Yarima told the Newsmen that the unions had failed to adhere to due process on the removal of varsity’s Bursar, who was duly appointed by the state government before assuming office.

It was recalls that the joint workers union of SSU had staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday, demanding the vice-chancellor to remove the institution’s bursar who was reportedly due for retirement.

The unions comprised the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) of the institution.

Yarima said the bursar was posted to SSU in the past three years from the state civil service through a letter from Government House,arguing that the workers ought to have protested then.

”The bursar was appointed before I became.a vice-chancellor.

“I don’t have the power to remove him based on the letter that appointed him, the unions ought to forward their complaints to state government directly not protesting to the vice-chancellor”s office.

” Gov. Ahmad Aliyu, who is the varsity’s visitor has a listening ear, because he had settled about N700 million outstanding payment of visiting and sabbatical lecturers within six days, previously demanded by the union.

” I suspected sabotage, hypocrisy and foul play in the protest aim at undermining the management, because I duly replied their letter and approached them for understanding and the resolution of the issue,” Yarima said.

He enjoined the group of intellectuals to respect themselves and not to become political tools on a mission to satisfy the interests of some individuals or groups in the state.

The vice-chancellor lamented that carrying placards on the streets was not expected in an academic environment.

He said, “This is because they are expected to conduct research on solving problems, rather escalating issues that can easily been resolved with short period.$

He added that the visitor, who is the governor and overseer of the varsity had settled Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and outstanding payment of promotion arrears hitherto owed the workers, which amounted to about N600 million.”

According to him, the governor had expressed readiness to implement the FG-ASUU agreement, saying,” because at present, a committee is working to harmonise all the workers demands as a demonstration of his concern to education sector.”

He said Aliyu had ensured that the education sector received 30 per cent allocation in the annual budget, which was higher than UNESCO benchmark.

It was further recalls that ASUU, SSANU and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) in the university on March 29, this year commended Aliyu for implementing salary increments in accordance with its agreement with the Federal Government

Sokoto Govt. N100.6m HIV allocation excites NEPWHAN, seeks for healthcare programme ownership

The Network of People Living With HIV in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), has expressed excitement over the N100.6 million allocation for HIV/AIDS kits, consumables by Sokoto state government.

The NEPWHAN Programme Officer, Malam Yahaya Sanusi, made the commendation during a media engagement on Friday in Sokoto.

Sanusi described the efforts as landmark achievement which was part of the advocacy proceeds made by NEPWHAN at government institutions and other stakeholders.

” This will douse the anxiety intensified after the United States Government paused foreign aid funds in January, an action that immediately affected the delivery of life-saving HIV medicines and prevention services in several countries,” he said.

He sought for increased community participation, institutions partnerships and healthcare development programmes ownership by citizens across Sokoto state.

According to him, NEPWHAN through different intervention from the global funds have rehabilitated, constructed healthcare facilities and provided wide range of services that improved healthcare access to all categories of people in the state.

The Programme Officer, who doubled as the COVID-19 Response Mechanism and Community System Strengthening (C19RM and CSS) grant Coordinator stressed the need for community ownership of projects.

He said the C19RM and CSS project executed most desirable projects in Bodinga, Shagari, Sokoto North, Dange Shuni and Gwadabawa local government areas.

Sanusi commending the state government on the recent recruitment of health workers and suggested for frequent refresher training for health workers.

He appealed to the government and other concern authorities to ensure that health facilities in the state were adequately equipped with testing facilities and drugs.

Speaking also, District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, lauded for HIV/AIDS release of fund by the state government in recognition of stoppage of donors agencies especially from the United States.

Umar-Jabbi said the temporary halt by the donor have heightened uncertainty among people living with HIV and those supporting the national response.

It was reports that stakeholders took turn to expressed their groups contributions and suggestion toward sustaining progress and called for more public enlightenment and media engagement

Traditional rulers, gov’t officials, students, rally against GBV in Sokoto

Traditional rulers and government officials have led a landmark march to commemorate 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Sokoto State.

Our Correspondent reports that GBV refers to any act of violence directed against an individual based on his or her gender.

The 16 Days of Activism Against GBV is a United Nations’ international campaign that runs from Nov. 25, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, through Dec. 10, which is the International Human Rights Day.

This period highlights that violence against women is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights worldwide.

The campaign was started in 1991 as a strategic effort to unite and amplify calls for the elimination of violence against women and girls.

Each year, the 16 Days of Activism galvanise organisations around the world and draws the attention of governments to the urgent and critical issues around GBV.

The theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism is ‘Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls’.

In Bodinga LGA, the District Head, Alhaji Bello Abdurrauf, enjoined parents and teachers to promote awareness programme against all forms violence and need for youth especially girls to report incidents.

Abdurrauf described the strategic awareness initiative towards rising consciousness to eradicate GBV the society and underscored the importance of collective efforts against the menace.

He stressed the need for people to be united in the fight to protect the rights and dignity of all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable.

“Through collective action and reforms, we can build a society where safety, justice and equality prevail,” he said.

He added Bondinga LGA have benefited with UN Women supports against GBV prevention strategies in the community and assured more commitment on the drive

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, commended the UN Women that supported series of GBV prevention action in Bodinga LGA.

tackle violence against women and girl

Alhaji said the march and the associated activities were not just symbolic gestures, they reflect our resolve and call to action against gender-based violence head-on.

He said the activities really assist in tackling violence against women and girls.

He called for more action on digital violence which had become a growing threat against women and girls, noting that the programme would continue to support partners working to eliminate all forms of discrimination and abuse.

In Sokoto South LGA, District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar-Jabbi, urged the stakeholders to take decisive action to safeguard the vulnerable population and ensure accountability for perpetrators of GBV.

Umar-Jabbi highlighted all forms of GBV and solicited for more collaborative measures on sanitizing the society from all forms of abuses, cultural beliefs and misconceptions as well as harmful practices.

It was report that UNFPA Programme Officer, Mrs Rabi Sagir, Director, Women in the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Hajia Hauwa’u Jabo, counselled students on the dangers of GBV.

Sokoto varsity workers demand sacking of school Bursur

The joint workers union of Sokoto State University (SSU) have called on the state government to remove the institution’s Bursur who is due for retirement.

This is contained in a statement signed by Dr Bello Musa and Mr Isma’ila Bala, on behalf of the unions and issued to the newsmen in Sokoto.

Our Correspondent reports that unions comprised the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) of the instruction.

Musa said the group of workers have conducted peaceful protest to attract public attention over what they described as a breach of university autonomy by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bello Yarima.

He alleged that the Vice Chancellor’s refusal to allow the University Bursar to retire undermined the institution’s autonomy inspite of the state government free hands on their activities.

According to the statement, the Bursar’s retirement became due in Oct. 2024, and the university law requires him to hand over to the most senior officer in the department pending the appointment of a substantive Bursar.

” Inspite of a letter from the Sokoto State Head of Service on Nov. 18, 2025, directing the Vice Chancellor to comply, he refused to implement the directive.

” The union executives had engaged the Vice Chancellor three times before embarking on the protest and issuance of this statement but no positive outcome was achieved,” Musa said.

The unions commended the Visitor to the University and Sokoto state governor, Dr Ahmad Aliyu, for his support and protection of the university’s autonomy.

When contacted, the Vice Chancellor he has no power on their demand because legitimate processes from the state government.

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