On June 6, 2023, the American University of Nigeria, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), declared open the 7th cohort of the Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBViE) course.
The Swiss Government provided funds for the seventh cohort. The event marked the formal beginning of another training phase for a fresh batch of practicing professionals who were thoroughly screened and selected to participate in the program to manage the fallouts and ultimately end the practice of gender-based violence in society.
In his welcome address, AUN President Dr. DeWayne Frazier said the fight against gender-based violence is so important to him that he strongly supports the program. He narrated a personal story while in the Congo Democratic Republic, how that incident impacted him and created psychological connections with gender-based violence against vulnerable persons, and his unyielding resolve to fight it.
"I stand strong with all of you, as the President of AUN, I will continue to support this Program," Dr. Dewayne declared.
Mr. Nicholas Martin-Achard, Humanitarian Program Lead, Swiss Embassy, Abuja, who spoke virtually, said, "This program cannot be precisely measured or quantified, I have no doubt that the positive impact that previous participants have had on preventing and responding to gender-based violence in emergencies by applying what they have learnt during the course has been enormous and still felt till this day in Adamawa and Yobe States."
He thanked AUN and UNFPA for constantly improving the course content and developing innovative ideas from one cohort to the next.
The Keynote Speaker and Representative of the United Nations Population Fund, Ms. Ulla Mueller, expressed her excitement in seeing other participants of this program. She also appreciated the Swiss and Norwegian governments' donations to continue the program. She stressed the importance of the program to the new participants to end gender-based violence.
"Today's ceremony makes the 7th cohort, the beginning of your journey, and I cannot stress enough the importance of continuing this course, and continuing to be a part of the professionals that is so desperately needed if we want to end gender-based violence," she stated.
She informed the participants that the course they will learn is internationally recognized because gender-based violence cuts across borders and knows no bounds. She stated that gender-based violence is a global problem, saying the rate is one in three women globally. But in Nigeria, it is one in two women.
The opening ceremony witnessed testimonies from previous participants on how the course has impacted their lives and professions and has enabled them to contribute to their society in matters relating to gender-based violence.
AUN-UNFPA also received goodwill messages while the Dean of the AUN School of Law, Prof. Yusuf Muhammad Yusuf, gave the vote of thanks.
Reported by John Abah