Kaduna: The Development Research and Projects Centre (DRPC), a Nigerian non-profit organization, has organized a two-day training for 40 Imams and Muslim Opinion Leaders (MOLs) from Kaduna and Kano States. The training aims to strengthen the role of religious leaders in advocating against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) across Northern Nigeria.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the initiative is a collaboration with the Ford Foundation West Africa office. Ahmad Abdullahi, the project coordinator, explained that this initiative leverages the influence and authority of religious leaders to address GBV by encouraging them to communicate, model, and advocate for change in their communities. He emphasized that MOLs are instrumental in shaping public opinion and can use Islamic teachings to challenge cultural norms that contribute to violence against women and girls.
As part of their training, participants recently took part in a Peer-to-Peer Study Tour in Egypt, interacting with prominent Islamic institutions, includin
g Al-Azhar and the Grand Mufti. Abdullahi added that insights gained from these engagements will be passed on to the Friday Mosque Imams through a step-down training workshop, equipping them to educate their communities on Islamic principles that protect women and girls from harm.
Kano State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Ahmad Auwalu, noted that the initiative also emphasizes Islamic perspectives on preventing GBV, focusing on protecting women and children from various forms of abuse, including sexual, domestic, and psychological violence. He acknowledged that the forty selected Imams for the training were from rural areas, where awareness about women’s rights is often limited.
Additionally, the Director of the Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue, Bayero University, Kano, Dr. Toafik Hussain, shared that the university has signed an MoU with DRPC to further advance GBV prevention goals. He noted that the center, as an Islamic institution, will work to enhance the capacity of religio
us leaders and foster a deeper understanding of GBV from both contemporary and Islamic perspectives.