By Daniel Atori, Minna
The Niger State Government has tasked social media influencers with the responsibility of unmasking misconceptions surrounding Gender-Based Violence (GBV) among adolescents across the state.
The charge was given by the State Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (AYSRH) Programme Coordinator, Ministry of Health, Niger State, Fatima Ahmed, during a one-day training on Strengthening Community Engagement in GBV Prevention and Adolescent Programmes, held in Minna.
The event was organised by the Global Promoters for Community Initiative (GPCI) in collaboration with the Adolescents Department of the Niger State Primary Health Care Agency.
Speaking at the event, Ahmed urged the influencers to leverage their online platforms to help curb the growing menace of GBV. According to her, the training was designed to strengthen active community participation in the prevention of GBV by enhancing skills for community engagement and mobilisation.
“The goal of this training is to strengthen community participation in preventing GBV and to build skills for effective community engagement,” she said.
“We want social media influencers to develop strategies for promoting positive social change through their platforms.”
In his remarks, the Project Director of GPCI, Mr. Olasukanmi Kalejaiye, said the involvement of influencers would help consolidate efforts to debunk misconceptions surrounding Gender-Based Violence.
According to him, GBV remains a pervasive issue shrouded in myths that often perpetuate silence and stigma.
“Addressing GBV requires dismantling these misconceptions, and social media influencers have a critical role to play in driving social change,” he said.
Kalejaiye further urged the influencers to take advantage of their powerful role in shaping public opinion and to actively support campaigns aimed at ending GBV in the state.