From John Bassey, Gusau
The Zamfara State Government, in collaboration with the Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre (GEPaDC) and Protection Without Borders Initiative (POWIB), has flagged off a ten-month pilot project to fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and promote gender equality in the state.
The Resilient Futures Project was launched at the Old Zamfara State Assembly complex, opposite Lala International Schools, in Gusau, the state capital.
Addressing the diverse partners and stakeholders at the official launch of the project, the Programme Manager, Mr Charles Henry Tapalna, said the pilot project would be implemented within a duration of ten months in two Local Government Areas, Gusau and Maru LGAs.
Tapalna, who was the facilitator of the workshop for the commencement of the project, said the project is aimed at championing gender equality, protection, access to justice, and peacebuilding.
The Programme Manager noted that the workshop marked the official commencement of the ten-month multi-sectoral intervention targeting women, girls, and vulnerable groups across Gusau and Maru LGAs.
“The Resilient Futures Project, funded through the French Embassy Fund for Innovative Civil Society Projects (FEF-OSC), seeks to strengthen economic independence, gender-based violence (GBV) response systems, and women’s participation in peace processes.
“This project targets over 8,920 direct beneficiaries, with a special focus on internally displaced women, GBV survivors, and out-of-school girls, while indirectly reaching more than 30,000 community members through awareness campaigns and outreach,” he added.
Tapalna further said the project reflects the urgent need to restore dignity, build economic resilience, and promote community-driven peace among women and youth who have long suffered from displacement, violence, and marginalisation.
“The project is structured around four strategic objectives, including economic empowerment of women and girls through vocational training, grants, and cooperative formation; reduction of GBV prevalence through legal aid, safe spaces, and male engagement; promotion of inclusive peacebuilding, training women mediators, and establishing women-led peace committees; and improvement of humanitarian access and protection for displaced persons through relief distribution and psychosocial services,” the Programme Manager further said.
Also speaking, the Secretary of Gusau Emirate Council, Mr Sambo Sambo, described the project as a welcome development.
“Today marks a turning point for women and youth in Zamfara. This initiative doesn’t just offer aid; it offers hope, structure, and a resilient future for vulnerable persons, especially women and children,” he said.
He assured support, commitment, and cooperation from the Gusau Emirate Council for the success of the project.
The Vice Chairman of Maru LGA, Alhaji Laminu Dansadau, pledged full support and collaboration from the council, emphasising the project’s alignment with local values and the need for women’s empowerment.
Also, the Director of the Ministry of Budget and Planning, Mrs Bilkisu Rabiu, noted that the project came at the right time when the Zamfara Government is ready to welcome partners for the development of the state.
In her address, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Honourable Aisha Anka, represented by Mrs Sadiyya Mamman, lauded the timeliness of the pilot project and assured the ministry’s support for the project.
The representatives of security agencies who attended the event also expressed their commitment to ensuring a safe and enabling environment for the project’s implementation.
Other participants from various organisations affirmed their commitment to provide technical and institutional support towards the success of the project.
They expressed optimism and pledged inter-agency collaboration to ensure the project’s success.
At the end of the event, the project received resounding endorsement from key stakeholders across sectors who attended the workshop.
The project launch and workshop were attended by representatives of the Council Chairmen of Gusau and Maru LGAs, representatives from Gusau and Maru Emirate Councils, representatives from the State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Ministry of Health, Budget and Planning, security agencies, the State Sexual Assault and Referral Centre (SARC), representatives from women and youth groups, development partners, CSOs, and members of the media, among others.
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