50 Gender Based Violence survivers ,launch ,empower economically in Kano
Kola Oyelere Kano
A Bridge Connect Africa Initiative (BCAI)an organization in Kano state ,has launched a ,50 women surviver of Gender Based Violence in Kano, aimed at trained them on economic employment and help them understand what GBV is
Making this known,during a press conference jointly addressed by the Chief executive officer , Bridge connect and project lead Waves project, Fatima Musa Aliyu and Makkiyyah Suleiman respectively stated that the GBV has negatively contributed immensely in the society,hence the need for all stakeholders to rise in fighting war against it
Fatima Aliyu , therefore stressed the need for governments ,traditional and religion leaders to joined hands together to wage war against Gender Based Violence ( GBV) affecting, especially,the women adding that the menace has ruined the life of many women and future of thousand of children in the society
Accordingly,the GBV has caused untold hardship as well damage the future of children,through lack of good parental care from, especially women who had been forced to be separated from their matrimonial homes
In view of this ,the BCAI, resolved to announces phase 2 of the WAVES project in Kano State, Nigeria with support from the French Embassy Fund Bridge Connect Africa Initiative (BCAI) and launch phase 2 of the Women Against Violence Empowered through Sustainability (WAVES) project.
She stared that the next phase builds on the outcomes and lessons from phase one and
advancing a model that links gender-based violence prevention, women’s economic empowerment, and climate-smart agriculture.
Through this project ,women were been empowered ,the surviver of Gender Based Violence,with economic employment,help them to understand what GBV is
This particular project is funded by the French embassy fund ,the organization empowers Civil Society Organization across the country,to carry out the project to empower women and promote gender equality for women in Kano state.
This is just the launch of the project, however,the project is going to be going on for the next ten months and we were going to be working with 50 women in the state of
According to her” The aim of the project is to end gbv and improve economic empowerment of women, because most time, women were not economically empower,so they were at risk of gbv
Through the ten months were going to work hand in hands with the women ,offer them training support on financial literacy , business, climate matter,link them to referral services for those who want to,for those who want to report the issue of gbv and eauiped them to understand the climate change on those who want to go into agriculture
It was stated that ” This new phase of the WAVES project is generously supported by the Embassy of France in Nigeria through the French Embassy Fund for Nigerian Civil Society Organizations (FEF-OSC), whose investment affirms a shared commitment to gender justice and inclusive development approaches and locally driven change emerged from a clear need: women and girls in Northern Nigeria face persistent structural barriers that heighten their vulnerability to violence, economic exclusion, and climate stress”.
Accordingly,” In phase 1, WAVES worked will with 50 women survivors of GBV, young mothers, and women engaged in small-scale agribusiness providing training in financial literacy, compost-based farming, cooperative building, and rights advocacy.
She added that ” Many
of these women became community educators and local leaders in their own right.Phase 2 expands this impact”.
Fatima Aliyu however stated that
“WAVES will support an additional 50 women across targeted communities in Kano State.”
Also speaking in the same vein ,Suleiman added that participants will receive sector-specific agribusiness coaching, access to circular economy training, and market mentorship tailored to their enterprise needs.
More than a skills-building program, this phase integrates policy and community advocacy into its design.
The project delivers integrated support across three key areas:Economic Empowerment: Participants receive practical training in agribusiness, circular economy practices, and financial literacy.GBV Prevention: WAVES facilitates survivor-informed workshops and referrals, while also promoting safe spaces and peer support systems.Policy Advocacy:
The project works with over 20 civil society organizations to advance legislative engagement on the Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Bill in Kano and the reinstatement of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act nationally.
Suleiman said that ” Over the next nine months, the program will introduce a flexible learning and monitoring model, allowing participants to reflect, share progress, and co-lead community-based solutions.
WAVES will also culminate in a showcase event highlighting women-led enterprises, advocacy outcomes, and local innovations.
Bridge Connect Africa Initiative remains committed to designing interventions that deliver dignity through access where justice is not defined only by law, but also by economic stability, ecological resilience, and the ability to thrive in one’s own terms.
The WAVES project is a demonstration of what becomes possible when local expertise, survivor agency, and system-informed design intersect.
BCAI extends its appreciation to all partners and stakeholders, especially the Embassy of France in Nigeria, for supporting the continuation of this work.
We also thank the Kano State government and call on more institutions to join this effort because every shift in policy, economy, or culture begins with a decision to act differently.