Bridge Connect Africa Initiative (BCAI), a Kano-based non-governmental organisation, has trained 50 women who are survivors or at risk of gender-based violence (GBV) across seven local government areas of the state. The training, which forms part of BCAI’s ongoing WAVES project Women Against Violence Empowerment through Sustainability is aimed at equipping participants with the tools to identify, respond to, and advocate against GBV while building their economic resilience.
Held over two days under the theme “Promoting Women’s Economic Growth Against Violence through Sustainable Practices in Kano,” the programme focused on survivor pathways, communication skills, boundary setting, community advocacy, and access to legal support. Beneficiaries were drawn from Dawakin Tofa, Bichi, Garko, Rimini Gado, Dawakin Kudu, Minjibir, and Kumbotso LGAs.
Speaking at the event, project lead Ms. Makkiyya Suleiman explained that the WAVES model integrates GBV prevention with women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. She noted that the initiative, which is supported by the Canadian government, is part of a broader nine-month project to build sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable women.
Experts from various sectors including the police, legal, and public health fields were invited to train participants on how to seek help, assert their rights, and access services. The women also received training in climate-smart agriculture, business development, and how to tap into economic opportunities to support their families and communities.
BCAI aims to empower at least 100,000 women in Kano by 2030 as part of its long-term goal to reduce GBV and promote gender equity across the state.
