On Tuesday 27th March 2018, a large number of stakeholders gathered at the Adamawa State Specialist Hospital to witness the official opening of the European Union funded Adamawa Hope Centre by the wife of the Adamawa State Governor.
The Medical Director of the Adamawa State Specialist Hospital, Dr. Bala Saidu, stated his appreciation for the efforts of the European Union, the British Council and the Ministries of Justice, Health and Women Affairs for supporting this initiative.
In his remarks, the Adamawa Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Bala Sanga, praised the setting up of the centre which he said will be taking as curative justice for the survivors and facilitate the prosecution of rape suspects. He said Adamawa has reviewed its penal code which now puts the jail sentence for rapists to minimum of 25 years and maximum of life in prison.
The Commissioner for Health, Fatima Atiku, said there was a lack of data around SGBV and the SARC provided an opportunity to start harmonising data. She said the SARC came at the right time as rape cases are becoming rampant and she promised to support the centre.
While commissioning the centre, the wife of Adamawa State Governor, Maryam Jibrilla, decried the increasing incidences of rape especially among teenagers. She advised parents to be careful over their female children as according to her: ‘’female children have become more vulnerable and exposed to sexual assault.”
Read more in the British Council Newsletter
Details
- Publication date
- 25 May 2018
- Region and Country
- Nigeria
- Thematic
- Improved governance and conflict prevention
- Partner
- British Council