Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Dr Asabe Vilita-Bashir, has said the centre will deploy information and communication technology to create awareness and strengthen the fight against gender-based violence.

Ms Vilita-Bashir stated this on Friday in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2023 16 days of activism to end GBV, with the theme, “Awareness Creation on Using ICT to Address Gender-Based Violence.”

She pointed out that ICT has the potential to reach the larger population of any society and facilitate open dialogue on the prevalence of GBV.

The DG said that the centre would utilise ICT tools, including electronic dashboards, to spotlight cases of GBV and contribute to the ongoing efforts to combat the challenge.

“ICT serves as a potent tool to amplify our voices, share knowledge, and foster a culture of awareness. By leveraging digital platforms, we can reach wider audiences and facilitate open dialogues surrounding the pervasive issue of gender-based violence.

“The immediacy of information dissemination through social media, online forums, and other digital channels can act as a catalyst for change and spark conversations that challenge societal norms and promote inclusion,” she added.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, also stressed the need for mobile courts and other initiatives for women’s empowerment as part of strategies to combat GBV.

Reiterating the commitment of the Federal Government to address challenges affecting women and girls, the minister stressed the need to break socio-cultural, religious, economic, and political biases to achieve gender equity.

“Let’s break all biases to achieve gender equality and equity. This is what we are trying to do through our sustainable development programmes. We also need to advocate for the 35 per cent affirmative action as well as encourage our girls to venture into fields that will harness their potential,” she said.

Also, a veteran journalist, Mojo Makanjoula, said that providing education to girls would empower them with knowledge about their rights and foster self-confidence.

“Education will make her understand that her rights are being violated, and she can seek succour where she will be able to get it,” she said. 

(NAN)