20 Bauchi Youth Fellows Trained to Lead Campaign Against Child Marriage
By Ahmed Ahmed
Twenty young fellows selected from the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State have been trained to lead grassroots campaigns against child marriage under the Zabin Rayuwa (Choice of Life) Project.
Mr Oluwafemi Jacob, Creative Director of the project, disclosed this at a quarterly stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday in Bauchi.
Jacob said the project was being implemented by the Girl Child Value Support Initiative with support from Amplify Change to address the persistent challenge of child marriage in the state.
He said the initiative aimed to empower talented young people to document and share real-life experiences from their communities through storytelling, drama, theatre and podcasting.
According to him, the fellows will collect stories highlighting the causes and consequences of child marriage and use creative arts to challenge harmful cultural and social norms that encourage the practice.
“The fellows were selected from the 20 local government areas based on their talents and potential in theatre, acting and creative expression.
“They will receive intensive training in theatre, acting, storytelling and podcasting to strengthen their advocacy skills,” he said.
Jacob said the 18-month project included six months of intensive capacity building designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools needed to engage their communities effectively.
He added that at the end of the programme, the fellows would serve as community advocates, working with traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents and other stakeholders to promote the education, protection and empowerment of girls.
Also speaking, the project’s Programme Manager, Mr Sadisu Ibrahim, stressed the need for sustained awareness campaigns to change societal attitudes toward child marriage.
Ibrahim urged stakeholders to take greater responsibility in protecting the rights of girls and supporting initiatives aimed at reducing the prevalence of early marriage across communities in the state.
Stakeholders at the meeting also called for stronger government policies, expanded skills acquisition programmes and increased community engagement to address the challenge of child marriage.
