As part of its interventions in building the resilience of vulnerable groups in Borno State, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has met with women and adolescents girls for a focus group discussion at the Women Development Centre in Maiduguri.
The discussion focused on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) also provided opportunities for a more informed policies on improving the welfare of the vulnerable group.
The programme supported by the Danish Government is also aimed at creating access and opportunities to women and adolescent girls living with disabilities.
It also unveiled valuable insights into their unique challenges and perspectives as well as help towards informed policies that promote the design of programmes that are not only empowering but has the advantage of improving their well-being.
A cross section of the women that participated in the programme, lauded the UNFPA for its sustain support in building their resilience.
Hafsat Mustafa, the leader of the women, said that as one of the beneficiaries of such support provided by the UNFPA, she was able to acquire skill in soap making that made her self-reliant.
“Many motorists, particularly keke- Napep riders in the area I reside buy their liquid soap to wash their keke from me,” Mustafa said.
She explained that with such skills training that enable them to be self-reliant, many of them won’t be roaming around begging for alms, a condition that could make them vulnerable to GBV attacks.
Also speaking on the group relationship with UNFPA, the State Chairman of National Association for Persons with Physical Disability, Mohammed Abubakar, urged other organisations and stakeholders to emulate UNFPA by reaching out to all categories of people.
He said that the latest support from UNFPA reached 160 of his members comprising 80 men and 80 women.
“We have been collaborating with them for the past four years,” Abubakar said.
