Harmful Practices on Girls: UNICEF, IWEI Launch BCP in Jigawa
From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative (IWEI), has launched the Building Community Power (BCP) project aimed at ending harmful practices against girls in Jigawa State.
Speaking at the launch event held at Three Star Hotel, Dutse, IWEI Project Manager, Comrade Abdullahi Moh’d Ahmad, stated that the six-month project (January to June) will be implemented in both Jigawa and Katsina States to tackle child marriage through prevention, protection, and empowerment strategies.
“The harmful practice of child marriage is a form of violence against women and girls, often justified by economic, cultural, and social factors. It deprives girls of education, limits economic opportunities, and exposes them to severe health risks, including complications during pregnancy and childbirth,” he said.
Ahmad explained that the project will establish 60 safe spaces for out-of-school adolescent girls, where they can learn, grow, and develop skills to contribute to their communities. The initiative will also provide financial education and peer support to foster empowerment and resilience by connecting girls to resources and mentorship, helping them break the cycle of poverty and vulnerability.
Additionally, the project will introduce Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC) to enable participants to save, access loans, and form sustainable groups that can leverage government empowerment initiatives.
As a pilot phase, the project will be implemented in four local government areas: Birnin Kudu, Dutse, Jahun, and Kiyawa. It aims to support over 1,500 out-of-school girls, establish 60 safe spaces, train 50 paralegals to handle child protection cases, engage 40 youth advocates, and set up four community accountability groups (CAGs) to oversee implementation in Jigawa State.
Ahmad called on all stakeholders to support and collaborate for the successful execution of the project.
In his remarks, the District Head of Kiyawa and Dan Masanin Dutse, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Kiyawa, commended the initiative, describing it as a significant step toward improving the lives of girls in Jigawa. He urged the people of the state to support the project.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab, represented by Hajiya Hindatu Tafida, applauded UNICEF and IWEI for the initiative. She noted that it aligns with the present administration’s efforts to combat gender-based violence, child abuse, and the challenge of out-of-school children in Jigawa.
