Adamawa Women Applauds Oxfam, Partners For Training On GBV And Gender Equality

Adamawa Women applauds Oxfam, Partners for training on GBV and Gender Equality.

From Umar Dankano, Yola.

Women in Adamawa state have attested the impact of the sensitization drive on the improvement of women rights and equality through conflict sensitive approaches undertaken by Oxfam, Giz, German cooperation co-founded by the European union(EU).

The 18th months old  programme codenamed “Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (WORGE Project)” was organized for women groups in Michika and Guyuk local government areas where they were trained on gender based violence and their rights being denied due to cultural and religious considerations.

In their separate remarks at the occasion in Yola Monday women leaders from Michika and Guyuk local communities, Mrs Regina Elson and Mrs Rose Russia confirmed that the coming of the Oxfam and its partners to their communities with the project has changed the narrative by exposing women to their rights and obligations.

They confessed that before the advent of the organizations to their communities, cultural and religious considerations usually bar them in understanding some responsibilities which were wrongly reserve for men but now the awareness have uprooted those incumbrances.

Earlier in his opening address, the Oxfam Country Director, Daniel Mccornmick welcomed the participants to the closeout of the project ‘Promoting the Rights of Women and Improving Gender Equality through Conflict-Sensitive Approaches’ stressing that the journey embarked on December 2023 and is part of BMZ’s programme on social and economic participation of returnees.

Mccornmick expressed gratitude to their donors including GIZ,CRUDAN,CEPAD and EU for their support and corporation in making the project a reality in these two local government areas meant to 
improve the economic and social participation of returnees, internally displaced persons, and vulnerable members of host communities.

“This collective presence highlights the importance of institutionalizing gender-responsive governance that prioritizes the voices and needs of the most marginalized, particularly women, girls, and displaced communities.

“Today marks a significant milestone in an extraordinary initiative with transformative potential for the people of Michika and Guyuk as well as the entire Adamawa state.This event highlights the progress made in advancing women’s rights and promoting gender equality through conflict-sensitive, inclusive, and locally rooted approaches that contribute to lasting behavioural and systemic change.

“Oxfam is honoured to be supported and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union. Their unwavering belief in our mission has been instrumental in launching and sustaining this impactful initiative. 

“With the collaborative efforts of our dedicated partners and the invaluable support of government stakeholders, the WoRGE project, using a gender-transformative and participatory approach, has been able to shift harmful norms through empowering participants to visualise life goals, identify barriers rooted in gender inequality, and create action plans towards economic self-reliance and shared domestic responsibilities

“The Project successfully enhanced the confidence, leadership skills, and decision-making power of women through the capacity trainings, mentorship, and platforms for collective action.Together we created of 13 safe spaces where community women now freely discuss specific issues and share learning that brought empowerment to them and their households. 

We increased number of women in leadership positions such as inclusion of three women and three persons with disability into the traditional council.As
a result of sustained advocacy and leadership training under the WoRGE Project, the representation of women in community leadership structures increased by 55%.

“Through the WoRGE project, our organizations have strengthened the capacity and existing collaboration of stakeholders both at the local government and state level.