NAWOJ, UNICEF Rally Rural Women in Bauchi to Defend Rights, Promote Health, Justice

 NAWOJ, UNICEF Rally Rural Women in Bauchi to Defend Rights, Promote Health, Justice

By Jamila Muhammad

The Bauchi State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has intensified calls for stronger protection of women’s rights, particularly in the areas of healthcare, education and access to justice.

The appeal was made during activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration held on Thursday evening in Durum Village, located in Bauchi Local Government Area of the state.

The awareness programme was designed to educate rural women about their fundamental rights and the importance of accessing quality healthcare services while also encouraging them to speak out against violence and discrimination.

Addressing participants at the event, the Chairperson of NAWOJ in Bauchi State, Hajiya Rashida Yusuf, described the annual celebration as a significant opportunity to enlighten women about their rights and empower them to make informed decisions about their wellbeing.

She explained that hosting the programme in a rural community was deliberate, noting that women living outside urban centres often lack access to critical information about their rights and available support services.

Yusuf encouraged women to play an active role in reducing child mortality by seeking medical attention at nearby health facilities and ensuring they attend recommended antenatal care appointments. She also urged mothers to prioritise routine immunisation for children under the age of five.

In her remarks, a representative of the Bauchi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development, Mrs Habiba Adamu, emphasised the need for expectant mothers to give birth in properly equipped health facilities to guarantee safer deliveries.

She highlighted that the Bauchi State Government has enacted the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act to safeguard women and other vulnerable groups from abuse and exploitation.

Adamu therefore encouraged victims of violence or abuse to promptly report such incidents to referral centres established under the Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development so that appropriate action can be taken.

Also speaking at the event, Mrs Halima Yusuf, Deputy Public Relations Officer of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Bauchi chapter, reaffirmed the organisation’s dedication to defending the rights of women and children, particularly in cases involving gender-based violence.

She expressed concern that some families often conceal incidents of sexual abuse and rape, stressing that silence only encourages perpetrators. She therefore urged survivors to come forward and seek justice.

Meanwhile, the Officer-in-Charge of Durum Primary Healthcare Centre, Mr Abdulraahid Bashir, enlightened participants on the benefits of antenatal care, professional medical support during childbirth and the importance of maintaining proper hygiene.

Bashir added that improved sanitation practices were essential in preventing many diseases, especially in rural communities where access to clean water and health education may be limited.