The Katsina Sexual Assault Referral Centre says it has recorded about 110 cases of sexual assault since its establishment in December 2023.
Out of the cases recorded within the period, 60 have been uploaded into the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS).
The Permanent Secretary, Department of Girl Child Education and Child Development, Mr. Aminu Badaru-Jikamshi, disclosed this at the opening of a three-day training in Katsina on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the training was organised by the department in collaboration with UNICEF for stakeholders from Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina States.
Key stakeholders at the training include medical personnel, justice and police officials, social workers, gender-based violence officers, representatives from the Ministry of Women Affairs, and SARC personnel.
According to Badaru-Jikamshi, the exercise aims to strengthen access to services for survivors of sexual violence through a child-centred and survivor-centred approach.
He said, “This progress reflects our growing ability to document, monitor, and respond to child protection concerns with professionalism and transparency.
“We deeply value UNICEF’s continued support and partnership in this journey, as it has not only provided us with the tools and knowledge needed to serve survivors better, but also strengthened our coordination among key stakeholders in the child protection system.
“Looking ahead, we are also exploring the possibility of organising a study tour to some states that have already established and operationalised their SARC centres.
“This is in order to learn from their experiences and adopt best practices that will ensure the full and effective operation of our own centre here in Katsina.”
He urged participants to take full advantage of the training to listen, learn, and share experiences so that, together, “we can further strengthen access to timely, coordinated, and survivor-centred services for our children and communities.”
The permanent secretary also appreciated UNICEF, other partners, and participants for their unwavering commitment to building a safer environment for every child in Katsina State.
“UNICEF’s collaboration with our department has been instrumental in strengthening our capacity to respond effectively to cases of sexual and gender-based violence.
“Through their generous support, our SARC centre has been equipped with essential working tools, which have greatly enhanced the quality of care we provide to survivors,” he noted.
Earlier, the Chief of Child Protection, UNICEF Abuja, Mr. Ibrahim Sesay, represented by Ms. Pragna Chakma, a child protection specialist, assured Nigeria of UNICEF’s continued support to end violence against children.
According to him, in 2024, the Minister of Women Affairs pledged Nigeria’s commitment to end violence against children, and UNICEF stepped in to support the government in achieving that goal.
He added that UNICEF had supported the centre by providing essential items to enhance its operations and ensure it delivers services at full capacity.
(NAN)
