The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), on Wednesday, restated commitment to champion the campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the country.
The Director-General of the scheme, Brig:-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, stated this in Bauchi during the inauguration of the 2025 NYSC grassroot gender sensitisation and advocacy campaign in rural communities for northern states.
The theme of the campaign is: ‘Breaking the Circle of Ignorance.”
He said the scheme would also champion campaign against all forms of inequality via the Corps Gender Vanguard Community Development Service (CDS) groups as foot soldiers across the 774 local government areas in the country.
Represented by Rifkatu Yakubu, the Bauchi State NYSC Coordinator, Nafiu said the campaign was a well thought out initiative of the Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement Department of NYSC, aimed at exposing the ills of GBV and gender inequality in the society.
“While gender issues are often misconstrued as affecting females alone, it is important to note that they include matters of concern to both genders in terms of their rights, roles and responsibilities.
“We are here to emphasise that no individual should be denied the opportunity to realise their potential, hence our appeal to all stakeholders to be more supportive, proactive and sensitive to gender matters.
“The overall achievements of NYSC in its efforts at reducing the incidences of Gender Based Violence in rural communities cannot be overemphasized.
“Through the relevant CDS groups, the scheme has facilitated the formation of Gender Clubs in schools in addition to providing links to victims of gender abuse.
“This is done through the GBV toll-free line of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs,” he said.
While soliciting for more support in the war against GBV, Nafiu assured that the scheme would continue to work with relevant stakeholders towards the success of gender mainstreaming in Nigeria.
In their separate remarks, the representative of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF)and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), advised students to speak out and report any form of abuse to the security agencies.
Truthng reports that the theme of the 2025 first phase gender sensitisation and advocacy campaign in rural communities by the NYSC is ‘Breaking the Circle of Ignorance”.
