BY JULIET the
Kaduna
Stakeholders across government, civil society, security agencies and development partners have renewed calls for stronger coordination, adequate funding and community-driven action to curb the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV), human trafficking and the growing population of street-connected and out-of-school children in Kaduna State.
The call was made at a one-day consultative workshop organised by the Voice of the Girl Child and Vulnerable People Foundation (VGCVPF) in partnership with Muslim Charity, held on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Gusau Institute, Kaduna.
The workshop brought together about 40 participants drawn from civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), government ministries, security agencies, religious bodies and the media.
In her opening remarks, the Executive Director of VGCVPF, Aisha Bello, said the workshop was designed to move conversations beyond rhetoric to practical action. She noted that despite existing laws and institutions, weak coordination, limited funding and poor community-level implementation continue to expose women, girls and vulnerable children to violence, exploitation and neglect.
She described the partnership with Muslim Charity as strategic, stressing that local organisations need sustained technical and financial backing to effectively respond to complex social problems, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Director, International Programme and Policy, Muslim Charity, Irfan Rajput, commended VGCVPF and Kaduna-based CSOs for organising what he described as an eye-opening engagement.
According to him, one of the major gaps identified is poor coordination between civil society organisations and government agencies. “These problems cannot be tackled by NGOs alone or by government alone. We need each other. Coordination, political will, professional commitment and proper utilisation of resources are key,” he said.
Rajput disclosed that Muslim Charity operates on a seven-year strategic cycle and that the workshop served as a research and learning platform to understand how CSOs and government institutions operate in Kaduna. He assured participants that the organisation looks forward to supporting and collaborating on projects targeting vulnerable women, children, street-connected children and survivors of GBV, subject to viable proposals.
Also, Umar Mohammed, Principal Social Welfare Officer at the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, said the ministry provides central services for GBV survivors, including shelter, medical assistance and psychosocial counselling through its Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC).
He explained that the ministry also supports prosecution by following up cases to ensure justice for survivors, citing examples of children trafficked out of the state who were rescued through joint operations with the police and other agencies.
Mohammed warned parents against handing over their children to individuals under the guise of charity or assistance, noting that trafficking syndicates increasingly target displaced and vulnerable families.
He, however, acknowledged challenges such as stigma, family pressure and survivors withdrawing cases mid-prosecution, which often frustrate efforts to secure convictions. Despite this, he disclosed that several convictions for sexual assault were secured in the past year.
Also speaking, Professor Hauwa Evelyn Yusuf, Professor of Criminology and Gender Studies at Kaduna State University and Executive Director of the Centre for Study and Resolution for Domestic Violence, said many survivors remain trapped in abusive situations due to ignorance of their rights and economic dependence on perpetrators.
She said her organisation provides shelter, psychosocial support and empowerment programmes for survivors, adding that poverty and lack of skills are major drivers of GBV and child trafficking. Yusuf called for more research, family empowerment and access to education as long-term solutions, while commending Muslim Charity for its non-discriminatory approach to humanitarian support.
Representatives of security agencies reaffirmed their commitment to tackling the menace. DSP Phoebe Samuel Alewa of the Gender and Family Support Unit, Kaduna State Police Command, said the police collaborate closely with CSOs and other security agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of GBV and human trafficking, while prioritising confidentiality to rebuild public trust.
Similarly, Superintendent of Corps Hafsat Gariba of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna State Command, said the agency plays a dual role of protection and enforcement, engaging communities to identify early warning signs, respond to cases and ensure survivors’ safety, prosecution of offenders and reintegration where necessary.
Participants at the workshop jointly called on the Kaduna State Government to increase budgetary allocation for social protection and child welfare, strengthen inter-ministerial coordination, institutionalise CSO-government partnerships, build the capacity of law enforcement and social workers, and address the root causes of streetism such as poverty, unemployment and lack of access to education.
Key issues discussed at the forum included the surge in out-of-school and street-connected children, widespread GBV against women and girls, domestic and cross-border human trafficking, and weak referral pathways among CSOs, government institutions and security agencies.
Participants proposed solutions ranging from community-based surveillance and public awareness to improved data sharing and clearer referral and response mechanisms.
