VOBSI organises GBV awareness campaign at BUK campuses
By Hauwa’u Sani
As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Voices Beyond Silence Initiative for Justice and Empowerment (VOBSI) organised a two-day awareness campaign across the campuses of Bayero University Kano (BUK).
The campaign was held in partnership with Women Radio/Voice of Women and focused on sensitising students on the importance of reporting gender-based violence (GBV). Participants were also guided on how to use the Women Radio GBV reporting platform for safe and anonymous reporting.
The Executive Director of VOBSI, Mariya Shuaibu Suleiman, said the awareness campaign became necessary due to the prevalence of gender-based violence and the limited reporting channels available to many students.
Ms Suleiman urged students to leverage the opportunity provided by the campaign to report cases anonymously.
She said the data generated from such reports would help inform effective interventions and practical measures to address gender-based violence in Kano.
“This will help us gather data that will inform working measures to mitigate issues of gender-based violence in Kano,” she said.
Speaking on the outreach activities, Hauwa Sani, who led the awareness campaign across the campuses, said the exercise began from the main gate of the university, where flyers were distributed and students were shown how to scan a QR code to report cases without revealing their identity or voice.
She said the team moved from the main gate to other key locations, including the convocation arena, the Faculty of Communication, the New Site campus and the Old Site campus.
According to the organisers, many students expressed interest in the platform, noting that the anonymous reporting option would encourage survivors to speak out.
One of the students, Safiyat Adam Idris, of the Faculty of Communication, said the campaign helped her realise that many people experience different forms of violence but remain silent due to the lack of safe channels to express themselves.
“People are going through different kinds of violence, but they do not always have access to organisations that can support them,” she said, adding that the anonymous reporting option made her more confident about seeking help.
Another student, Fauziyat Hadi, described the campaign as enlightening, saying it improved her understanding of gender-based violence and the importance of awareness.
She noted that GBV remains a persistent issue and said engaging students through collective outreach made the message more effective.
“I am happy to have participated in the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV because it is another milestone in creating awareness,” she said.
Organisers said many students welcomed the flyers, describing them as a new opportunity to express their experiences safely, especially for those who fear being identified.
They added that the campaign was aimed at ensuring that survivors and witnesses of GBV are aware of available reporting tools and support systems within and beyond the university community.
VOBSI reiterated its commitment to promoting awareness, encouraging reporting, and supporting efforts to address gender-based violence through advocacy and community engagement.
