Kaduna Empowers Women Leaders Against GBV

In a strategic move to combat the persistent challenge of gender-based violence (GBV) at the grassroots level, the Gender Awareness Trust (GAT) has successfully trained a cohort of Christian women and women leaders of culture in Kaduna State. The intensive one-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop, held recently in Kaduna, equipped 12 selected participants from Zangon Kataf and Kaduna South Local Government Areas with actionable strategies to prevent and respond to GBV within their communities.

The initiative, implemented under the "Empowering Christian Women and Leaders of Culture for Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria" project, represents the second phase of GAT’s targeted intervention in the state. The programme was made possible through crucial funding and technical support from the Women Aid Collective (WACOL), a prominent non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing women's rights and safety across Nigeria.

Speaking during the training, GAT’s Executive Director, Dr. Lydia Umar, emphasized that the unique social and cultural positions occupied by these women place them in a powerful vantage point to drive meaningful, lasting change. She noted that faith actors, community influencers, and custodians of culture possess inherent platforms to shape critical conversations around relationships, family life, dignity, and mutual respect.

“Women leaders and custodians of culture have platforms through which they can shape conversations around relationships, family life, dignity, and respect, making their involvement critical to efforts aimed at preventing violence before it occurs,” Dr. Umar stated. 

The core objective of the workshop extended far beyond mere knowledge acquisition. Participants were challenged to transition from passive attendees to active advocates and trainers. Dr. Umar urged the women to leverage their respective spheres of influence to promote core values of justice, equality, and protection, while actively encouraging their families and communities to reject harmful behaviors and cultural practices that expose women and girls to violence, abuse, or discrimination.

A defining feature of this intervention is its cascading "Training of Trainers" (ToT) methodology. Recognizing that a one-day workshop cannot singularly dismantle deeply entrenched societal norms, the programme is explicitly designed for exponential reach. The 12 trained leaders are now expected to take the knowledge and skills acquired beyond the training venue, sharing them with other women and community members in their respective domains.

Dr. Umar stressed that the ultimate success and measurable impact of the programme would depend largely on the trainees' ability to translate theoretical lessons into practical, community-driven activities. 

“The impact of this programme will depend largely on the ability of the trainees to translate the lessons into practical activities within their communities,” she explained. “Participants are expected to conduct step-down trainings in Zangon Kataf and Kaduna South, thereby extending the reach of the intervention and creating a wider network of women equipped to identify, challenge, and prevent harmful practices associated with GBV.”

This localized approach is particularly vital in Northern Nigeria, where cultural and religious frameworks heavily dictate social norms. By empowering women who already command respect and trust within these frameworks, GAT is fostering an organic, culturally sensitive resistance to gender-based violence. Instead of imposing external solutions, the initiative amplifies internal voices that can safely and effectively challenge harmful traditions from within.

As the participants return to Zangon Kataf and Kaduna South, they carry a renewed mandate: to transform their communities into safe havens for women and girls. Through sustained step-down trainings and grassroots advocacy, this cohort of leaders is poised to ignite a broader movement, proving that the most effective defense against gender-based violence often begins with the empowered voices of women at the very heart of the community.