Despite ongoing campaigns against GBV, some Kaduna women believe it is okay for a man to beat a woman.

Muhammad Abdullahi, Chief of Staff to Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, disclosed this in Kaduna on Wednesday, at the official launch of the 2021 State of the World Population Report by the United Nations Population Fund, in collaboration with the Planning and Budget Commission (PBC).

He stated that 73 per cent of women in Birnin Gwari LGA and 0.4 per cent in Zaria LGA believed it was okay for a man to beat a woman. The chief of staff added that the survey showed 49 per cent prevalence of female genital mutilation in Makarfi LGA and 34 per cent in Giwa LGA.

He said the findings were based on the current General Households Survey conducted by the state’s bureau of statistics, validated by relevant stakeholders.

The survey also showed that over 30 per cent of girls in Kubau and Kudan LGAs were also married off before they turned 15.

He noted that at the zonal level, over 32 per cent of girls are married off before age 15 in Kaduna North senatorial zone, 15 per cent in Kaduna Central, and 17 per cent in Kaduna South.

“Therefore, for us in Kaduna state the 2021 State of the World Population Report is timely and will help us look deeply into these disturbing statistics.

“The relevant ministries, departments and agencies, particularly Ministry of Health, Human Services and Social Development and PBC will study the report closely and provide a clear implementation plan for some of the recommendations.

“Particularly areas that are important to the people of Kaduna state,” he said.

Hauwa Yusuf of the Criminology and Gender Studies Department at Kaduna State University explained that women needed to know that they have a right to decide on issues that affect their bodies.

Ms Yusuf, while presenting an overview of the report, stressed that bodily autonomy empowered women and enabled them to make informed decisions to achieve their goals in life.