Residents of several communities in Yorro local government council of Taraba State have called for urgent action to abolish harmful cultural practices within the Mumuye ethnic group.
The call was made on Monday at the palace of the Chief of Mumuye, Alhaji Ado Adamu Manzan, during activities marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The residents described the cultural practices as detrimental to social development and the wellbeing of women and girls.
Community representatives used the occasion to highlight cultural practices they said have perpetuated inequality and hindered development in the area.
Appealing to the monarch as the custodian of culture and tradition, the residents urged him to intervene by expunging such practices from Mumuye customs. They stressed that urgent reforms were needed to address long-standing injustices that have relegated sections of the community, particularly women, to the background.
Organisers of the event, the Women and Children Health Empowerment Foundation, WACHEF, and ActionAid Nigeria, also called on the traditional ruler and the Yorro local government leadership to enact bylaws aimed at abolishing harmful practices, many of which they noted disproportionately affect women and girls.
Speaking, the Chairman of WACHEF’s Board of Trustees, Dr Danjuma Garba, disclosed that gender-based violence remains prevalent in Yorro Local Government Area. He urged the monarch to collaborate with the council leadership to introduce bylaws to address cultural practices he described as inimical to the overall development of the area.
Garba, who is also the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Health Service Management Board, outlined ongoing interventions by WACHEF and ActionAid Nigeria across eight communities in the council.
He said the initiatives are focused on tackling harmful cultural practices and supporting vulnerable populations, expressing optimism that sustained advocacy would drive positive change.
He was also noticed to have raised concerns over the high prevalence of hepatitis in one of the communities and pledged the foundation’s commitment to addressing the health challenge.
Also speaking, the Advisor, Partnership and Local Rights Programme of ActionAid Nigeria, Hajara Opaluwa Adamu, identified poverty as a major driver of gender-based violence. She explained that ActionAid Nigeria is addressing the root causes of inequality through economic empowerment initiatives.
“At ActionAid Nigeria, we believe poverty is not accidental but the result of long-standing structural inequalities that deny women access to resources, opportunities and power. One of the most devastating consequences of this inequality is gender-based violence,” she said.
As part of the intervention, Adamu announced the launch of an economic empowerment grant scheme targeted at women in Local Rights Programme communities. She presented cheques totalling over N3 million to women trained in various skills, noting that the grants are meant to serve as start-up or scale-up capital for small businesses.
“These grants are not handouts but strategic investments in women’s resilience, dignity and leadership,” she said, adding that beneficiaries would receive continuous mentorship and business management training in collaboration with relevant government agencies.
A total of 70 women from Yorro and Gashaka Local Government Areas benefited from the grants. The communities include Bolimika, Dasso, Mika, Mazala, Nyaja Davo, Nyaladi Shumbo and Yali in Yorro, as well as Balewa, Mayang, Mayo Jakaza and Pumpo in Gashaka.
Responding to the appeals and advocacy by community members, WACHEF and ActionAid Nigeria, the Chief of Mumuye pledged to urgently address the concerns raised. He promised to take immediate steps to expunge all harmful cultural practices associated with the ethnic group.