The Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning has commenced a three-day “Step-Down Training” on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Grievance Redress Mechanism, aimed at enhancing understanding and strengthening responses among stakeholders involved in the NG-CARES program.
In his opening address, the Permanent Secretary of Finance, Mallam Sani Haruna, emphasized the critical importance of tackling gender-based violence. He noted that GBV remains a serious issue affecting communities across the country and stressed the need for collective action to prevent, manage, and eliminate it.
He urged participants to take the training seriously, seeing it as a crucial opportunity to build a safer and more inclusive society, especially for vulnerable groups.
Mallam Sani, appreciated the Governor, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo for the infrastructural developments across the state, highlighting that such projects would drive growth and development in the state
He called on participants, who include civil servants and contract staff, to remain steadfast and supportive of the government’s development agenda. He further commended the Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Asiwaju Idris, who also serves as the Chairman of the NG-CARES Steering Committee, for his relentless efforts in sourcing resources to support the state’s initiatives. The Permanent Secretary attributed the prompt payment of salaries and the successful execution of projects to the Commissioner’s hard work and commitment to ensuring the government delivers on its mandate.
Reflecting on the NG-CARES program, the Permanent Secretary acknowledged the challenges faced, particularly regarding resource flow and management discrepancies among states. He, however, urged participants to continue making sacrifices, emphasizing that dedication and perseverance would bring long-term benefits. He also advised them to improve documentation practices and put proper structures in place to strengthen program delivery.
Providing an overview of the training, Mrs. Bridget Okpanachi, stated that the program is part of the partial fulfillment of NG-CARES 2.0 objectives. She stressed the importance of addressing gender-based violence within the program, especially given the present economic realities that increase the vulnerability of beneficiaries. She emphasized the need for a zero-tolerance policy towards GBV and encouraged efforts to make Kogi State a GBV-free environment. Mrs. Okpanachi also highlighted the importance of an effective grievance redress mechanism, noting that ignoring grievances compromises program implementation and credibility.
The program featured key guest speakers, including Mr. Samuel Okpanchi, who gave an insightful presentation on understanding gender and sex, and Barrister Moh’d Gambo, who spoke extensively on the survival center approach and referral pathways for victims of gender-based violence.
Participants were encouraged to actively engage, ask questions, and contribute their field experiences to enrich the sessions. The Ministry looks forward to a successful and impactful training that will strengthen mechanisms for protecting vulnerable groups and ensuring accountability in program implementation across the state.
Princess Funsho Sumanu
Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning
