In a bid to reduce the rising divorce rates in Kebbi State, Hajiya Zainab-Nasare Idris, the wife of Governor Atiku Bagudu, unveiled a proposed Marriage Reconciliation Committee Bill to the State House of Assembly.
Idris shared the news during a press briefing on Sunday, marking the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) in Birnin Kebbi.
She revealed that the state’s Chief Judge had been briefed on the proposal. If passed, the bill would provide a legal framework for addressing matrimonial altercations, creating a peaceful avenue for couples to resolve conflicts.
The theme for this year’s IWD, “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality Through Women Economic Empowerment,” was said by the Governor’s wife, who emphasised the state’s strides in promoting gender equality.
Also, she pointed out that Kebbi State has made significant progress towards achieving the 35 percent affirmative action target.
The number of female Permanent Secretaries in the state has increased from three to six, and the number of women councillors has grown from 17 to 28.
Also, two women were appointed as commissioners for the first time in the state’s history.
Idris praised her husband’s commitment to women’s issues, revealing that he had mandated the election of at least one female councillor from each local government in Kebbi State.
She encouraged women to embrace self-development, continue to pursue knowledge, and explore economic opportunities available to them.
In her remarks, Dr. Suwaiba Salihu, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Women Affairs, called for greater equity, inclusivity, and change, particularly in women’s representation in government.
She advocated for increasing the number of female commissioners in the state to ten and urged women to remain active in agriculture, emphasizing their crucial role in national food security.
Alhaji Nasir Idris, Secretary of the Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kebbi, commended the Governor’s wife for her support of the NGO, which had led to a significant reduction in the rate of GBV in the state.
He said that her direct interaction with GBV survivors was unprecedented in Kebbi and led to the distribution of N50,000 to 100 survivors to support their business ventures.
The NGO has also secured life imprisonment convictions for 18 perpetrators, marking a notable decrease in crime rates compared to last year.
Alhaji AbdurRasheed Bala, Coordinator of the Nasara Women Development Foundation, a project of the Governor’s wife, reported that the foundation has positively impacted over 10,000 women, further solidifying her commitment to empowering women across the state.
