Minna, April 9, 2026 (NAN) The Development Initiative of West Africa (DIWA), a Nonprofit organization, has organized a three-day capacity-building training for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to strengthen efforts at combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training, tagged “Strengthening Community-Driven Response to Gender-Based Violence,” brought together participants from four North-Central states.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of DIWA, Mr Daoda Kanneh, commended participants for their commitment.
He said the engagement underscored a shared recognition among stakeholders that GBV remained a critical challenge affecting individuals, families and communities across Nigeria and beyond.
Kanneh said that in spite of ongoing interventions, there was still need for stronger coordination, enhanced capacity and more structured approaches to prevention.
Also speaking, Mrs Halima Buba, a Board Member of DIWA, emphasized the importance of adopting a collaborative institutional approach.
She described GBV as systemic and deeply rooted in social and gender norms.
Also, Mr Habila Mohammed-Kuduthe, the Project Officer of DIWA, said that the training was aimed at reducing the impact of GBV at the community level.
“We are empowering civil society organizations to serve as gatekeepers and champions in addressing GBV,” he said.
One of the participants, Mr Samuel Yisa, from Community Action for Popular Participation in Niger, said the training had equipped participants with knowledge on emerging trends in GBV, which he described as increasingly prevalent.
He called for collective action among stakeholders to achieve meaningful results.
NAN reports that participants at the training, held in Abuja on Wednesday, were drawn from Niger, Kogi, Benue and Kwara states.(NAN)
