Rape: Kano to establish two counselling centres

Kano State Government says it has concluded arrangements to establish two counselling centres to address stigma and enhance psychosocial support to rape victims.

Wife of the Governor, Hajiya Hafsat Ganduje, stated this at a virtual conference organised to mark the 2020 International Day of the Girl-Child, on Monday in Kano.

International Day of the Girl-Child is an annual event declared by the UN and celebrated on October 11, to highlight challenges and promote girls empowerment.

Hajiya Ganduje, who represented by Dr Zahra’u Muhammad, the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, said the centres would be designed to accommodate and provide counselling services to the victims for at least two weeks with a view to reducing emotional trauma caused by sexual assault.

“Some of the victims, if not all, need adequate counselling and social reintegration to continue their normal lives,” Ganduje said.

She reiterated the state government commitment to accord priority to the girl-child education for sustainable development in the state.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who spoke via Skype, said that the Federal Government had adopted proactive programmes to encourage development of girl-child education.

Nwajuba urged girls to avail themselves the opportunities provided in the programmes to pursue education with vigour, to enable them to develop their potentials and excel.

He stressed the need for the state governments to give priority attention to education development to address the social and economic challenges in the country.

UNICEF representatives, Peter Hawkings and Michael Banda, reiterated the commitment of the UN agency to enhance girls’ access to quality education.