By Abdul Kareem
Maiduguri, Borno State – The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has on Tuesday, Nov. 19, launched a collaborative initiative aimed at combating traditional harmful practices that restrict women’s and girls’ rights to Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) in Borno State.
This effort involves local journalists, civil society organizations, youth leaders, and traditional authorities working together for change.
During first the roundtable discussion that is expected to last two days in Maiduguri, on Tuesday, NRC Country Advocacy and Communication Manager, Sabiu Suleiman, emphasized the importance of equitable access to property rights.
“It is unfair to deny vulnerable groups, especially women and girls, the right to own a house, land, or property,” Suleiman said. “These rights are fundamental to human dignity.”
“This gathering seeks your support and cooperation to promote awareness and collective action against cultural practices that limit HLP rights for women and girls,” he urged.
He highlighted NRC’s commitment to ensuring gender-inclusive policies that protect vulnerable populations.
“Our ongoing campaign will benefit greatly from media involvement—reporting, advocating, and disseminating information to safeguard the rights of women and girls in society.”
Since 2015, NRC has implemented various projects to support Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable groups across Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Plateau states, focusing on areas such as Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Livelihood and Food Support (LFS), and Education.
Leaders in attendance at the roundtable commended NRC’s efforts. Comrade Abdulkareem Haruna, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Borno, and Comrade Inusa Ndahi Marama, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, expressed their commitment to collaborating with NRC.
“We pledge to work together to protect the rights of women and girls in our society,” they affirmed.
The Humanitarian Times 