IWD: Kaduna residents demands equal rights, end to gender violence
By: Femi Mustapha
Thousands of men, women, and children took to the streets of Kaduna on Saturday, March 8, 2025, to commemorate International Women’s Day, themed, “Empowering Women for Gender Equal World”, sending a powerful message of solidarity and demand for equal rights and an end to gender violence.
The seven-kilometer walk, organized by Sabo 2 The World in collaboration with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Sabon Tasha Ward, Chikun Local Government area of Kaduna State, drew participants from all walks of life
Richard Garu, one of the coordinators of the Sabo 2 the World team, emphasized the importance of recognizing the value and worth of women and girls, saying, “Our girls and women should also engage themselves in some of the activities the society attributed to the men.”
He stressed the need for education and awareness to combat gender violence, noting that “we need to educate our boys who will grow to become men that it is not good to abuse or harass women”.
Mrs. Talatu Odu, another organizer, highlighted the significance of the walk, saying, “We embark on this endurance walk to educate the public on the danger of gender inequality.
“To tell women that they can be prosperous as men do”.
Participant Yahaya Tabat Friday echoed the sentiment, saying, “There is violence and abuse of girls, and we want to see how we, the men, can lead the campaign of moving together.”
He noted that the walk sent a powerful message that girls and women can do a lot in society and deserve support and consideration.
The event was a testament to the power of collective action, the growing demand for gender equality, and an end to violence against women and girls.
As the Chairperson of Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC), Ms. Jessica Bartolomew, succinctly put it, “After today, we respect men for being there for us; women too should be able to aim higher.
We can have a woman as President as seen in other countries.”
The walk, which started from Valid through Sabo market to the Sabo bridge and returned to the NYCN office along the Kaduna Refinery and Petrol Chemical Company road, drew a massive turnout, exceeding the organizers’ expectations.
