The Management of the National Corps of the Youth Service (NYSC) has pledged to lead campaigns against gender violence (GBV) throughout the country, particularly attacked to the members of the body.
This commitment was announced by the general director of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu, during the launch of the first phase of a gender awareness campaign and base defense aimed at rural communities in the northern states. The event took place in Bauchi on Wednesday.
According to him, “the scheme would also defend a campaign against all forms of inequality using GEGER VANGUARD CORPS COMMUNITY CDS SERVICE (CDS) groups.
The DG that was represented by the Coordinator of the Bauchi state of NYSC, Mrs. Rifkatu Yakubu, explained that the awareness and defense campaign was a well -thought initiative of the coordination of reforms and the Department of Improvement of the NYSC Service.
This, he said, aimed to expose the evils of gender violence and gender inequality in society.
According to him, “although gender problems are often misunderstood only as women affecting alone, it is important to take into account that they include matters of concern for both genres in terms of their rights, roles and responsibilities.”
Olakunle Nafiu added that “we are here to emphasize that no individual should be denied the opportunity to perform their potentials, hence our appeal for all interested parties to be more supportive, proactive and sensitive to gender issues.”
“NYSC's general achievements in their efforts to reduce the incidence of gender violence in rural communities cannot be exaggerated,” he added.
The NYSC DG also declared that, “through the relevant CD groups, the scheme has facilitated the formation of gender clubs in schools in addition to providing links to victims of gender abuse through the GBV toll line, of the Federal Ministry of Women's Affairs.”
While ensuring that the scheme would continue working with the pertinent interested parties for the success of gender incorporation in the country, Nafiu requested the necessary support in the War against GBV.
In his separate comments, the representative of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) urged students present to speak and inform any form of abuse to security agencies.
The theme of the gender awareness and defense campaign of the first phase of 2025 in the rural communities by the NYSC is “to break the circle of ignorance.”