By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
THE Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), an International Non- Governmental Organization working in about 40 countries, Nigeria inclusive, is to partner with Journalists working in Borno State, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, youths/community leaders, religious and traditional rulers to influence and end traditional harmful practices affecting women and girls to own Housing, Land and Property (HLP) as Rights.
Recall that the over decade Boko Haram has left women and girls vulnerable in the state, and were hitherto affected by some traditional harmful practices.
Addressing the participants at City Star Conference Hall in Maiduguri on Tuesday during a round table discussion, The NRC Country Advocacy and Communication Manager, Sabiu Suleiman said, it is unfair to deny women and girls who are vulnerable groups in the society not to own a house, land or property, insisting that those vulnerable groups are entitled and have a rights to do so as human beings.
He noted that, it is the responsibility of all and sundry, especially Journalists and other stakeholders to advocate and key into NRC’s drive towards ensuring the rights of women and girls are protected in the society.
” As stakeholders, this gathering is to seek for your support and cooperation to promote awareness and collective action to influence cultural practices that limit Housing, Land and Property rights for women and girls.
“This initiative is part of our broader and collective commitment to safeguarding equitable housing, land and property access for all and ensuring gender-inclusive policies that protect vulnerable populations”. Suleiman said.
He added that the ongoing campaign will be greatly appreciated if the media practitioners will key in, cover, report, advocate, and to widely disseminate information towards ensuring the rights of women and girls are protected in the society.
On the success stories achieved by NRC, Suleiman pointed out that, the Organisation (NRC), since 2015 had been implementing projects to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable groups in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Plateau states, especially in the area of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Livelihood and Food Support (LFS), Education, Protection from Violence, Information Counselling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) among others interventions.
In their remarks, the Borno State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Abdulkareem Haruna, The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, NUJ, Comrade Inusa Ndahi Marama and the Executive Director, Global Environmental Responds Initiative, From Amaji Ngare Dogo commended NRC for organizing the parley which they all pledged to partner together to ensure women and girls Rights are protected in the society.
