Sexual abuse counselling services in Nigeria play a vital role in guiding victims of sexual abuse in recovering from the ugly experiences of the abuse. In addition to their therapy services, they also go as far as providing Justice for the victims.
If you know a sexually abused victim struggling to put the pieces of their lives together, you might want to consider these counselling services in northern Nigeria that offer supportive help for them.
What Do Sexual Abuse Counselling Services Do?
Sexual abuse of all kinds is a criminal offense punishable by the law in Nigeria. According to the Sexual Abuse Referral Center report, incident reporting most cases of sexual offenses are committed against females (79%) and young people under 18 years old (77%).
Unfortunately, victims of sexual abuse go through terrible phases after experiencing sexual abuse. They are subjected to mental disorders, trauma, loss of self-value, thoughts of suicide, risk of sexually transmitted disease, and many other negative effects.
Oftentimes, these victims struggle to forget what has happened and find it difficult to move on with their lives, and if you know one, you might want to know how to help victims of sexual abuse victims.
However, personal assistance might be limited and requires more professional assistance, that’s when the help of counseling services comes into play
Sexual abuse counselling services are organizations either governmental or non-governmental, which provide medical care and supportive services to those who have experienced rape or sexual assault. Additionally, they offer assistance to victims of gender-based abuse.
Sexual abuse counselling services in northern Nigeria offer a maximum support system to victims by collaborating with other supportive stakeholders. This includes:
List of Sexual Abuse Counselling Services in Nigeria
1. Rayuwa Sexual Abuse Referral Center (RSARC) Police Clinic, Minna
Rayuwa is a non-governmental organization working to raise awareness about sexual abuse and also provide standard counselling services in northern Nigeria to survivors of abuse in Niger State.
Address
Police Clinic, Minna
Niger state
Hotline
08188107782
Their operation is based in Niger state Nigeria, you can contact them through their hotline:
2. FCT – Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Team (FCT-SGBVRT)
This team comprises the most relevant agencies that fight against sexual abuse/ violence. They offer an effective, comprehensive, and coordinated response to cases of domestic and sexual violence.
You can take victims for counseling sessions to help overcome the experience.
Address
Social Development Secretariat (SDS) 2nd Floor,
Cyprian Ekwensi House, Arts & Culture Complex,
Area 10, Garki
Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
Hotline
08077111126
3. Jigawa Sexual Assault Referral Center
This center was established to provide counselling services to victims of rape in the state by members of staff of the state ministry of women’s affairs and societal development along with other personnel.
Address
Jigawa Sexual Assault Referral Center,
Dutse General Hospital,
Jigawa State
Hotline
08033035588
4. Kano Sexual Assault Referral Center
Kano State referral center offers supportive counselling services in northern Nigeria to victims of sexual assault. It brings people from hospitals, social work departments, Justice ministry to resolve sexual cases.
Address
Kano Sexual Assault Referral Center at Murtala Mohammed Hospital, Kano
Kano State
Hotline
08065340578
5. Sexual Offences Awareness &Victims Rehabilitation Initiative (SOAR)
Sexual Offences Awareness & Victims Rehabilitation Initiative (SOAR) was set up in 2011 by a survivor of child sexual abuse to prevent and respond to the prevalence of various forms of sexual violence and exploitation against children in Nigeria.
The organization is currently working on a programme to address child marriage in the North Central states of Nigeria.
Address
31 Okemesi crescent, near Holy Trinity hospital, opp CBN Headquarters Garki 2, Abuja.
Salama referral center offers one of the best sexual abuse counselling services in Nigeria. This center ensures the victims receive medical, psychological, physical, and other support they need.
Address
Salama Sexual Assault Referral Center at Gawna Awan Specialist,
Kakuri, Kaduna State
Hotline
08033837025
7. Specialist Hospital, Yola
This specialist hospital also engage in counseling services for victims of sexual abuse who are struggling to get their lives back on track.
Address
Specialist Hospital,
Yola, Adamawa State.
Hotline
08033162823
8. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF), Abuja
Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF) works to end sexual and gender-based violence through direct support for survivors, they promote basic ethics and values in society.
Address
Suite 3, Datum plaza, 120 Benjamin Ficus street, Gaduwa estate, Abuja.
Umaru Shehu hospital provides sexually abused victims with supportive medical care to secure their health from suffering from the experience.
Additionally, this hospital provides counseling services that take victims through a step-by-step recovery process.
Address
Umaru Shehu Ultra Modern Hospital,
Maiduguri, Borno State
Hotlines
08023585805
10. Yobe Sexual Assault Referral Center
Sexual assault cases shouldn’t be waved aside but reported for immediate solutions and irrespective of who the abuser is, they aren’t above the law.
If you live in Yobe state then you must take advantage of the Yobe sexual assault referral center to provide Justice for victims.
Address
Yobe Sexual Assault Referral Center
Damaturu, Yobe State.
Hotline
07030103847
11. Body Safety Academy
Body Safety Academy (BSA) is a Hybrid Organization dedicated to educating, empowering, supporting and equipping organizations and families with well mapped out strategies to prevent child abuse.
Their mission is to arm children with the knowledge and skills to make informed safety decisions and take appropriate actions when met with harmful situations. They also help parents move from ignorance to enlightenment as relates to body safety education and safeguarding their children from sexual predators.
Address
Kaduna state
12. Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Gusau
Located in Room 18 Amenity Ward, General Hospital Gusau, this is the first of its kind in the state. You can contact them on 0803 557 7891.
Conclusion
Counselling services in northern Nigeria are set in place to fight against sexual abuse across the state, provide Justice for victims, create awareness among the masses and also provide a support system to aid victims’ recovery over time. Hence, sexual abuse cases should not be kept secret for any reason.
Which other sexual abuse counselling services in Nigeria do you know? Let us know in the comments.
Audu Maikori is a Nigerian lawyer, entrepreneur, social activist, public speaker, and creative industry expert. He is most recognized as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Chocolate City Group, the mother Company of the leading African record label Chocolate City Entertainment.
In May 2017, Audu Maikori accused the Kaduna State Government of violating his human rights after being arrested for allegedly inciting the public during the Southern Kaduna crisis. Maikori was arrested and detained for 24 hours for posting a false story on social media about killing five College of Education students in Southern Kaduna. The label boss later apologized for posting the story, adding that his driver relayed it to him, saying his (driver) brother was among the victims.
After an ongoing lawsuit, the court ruled in his favor and ordered the Kaduna state government to pay N10.5m as damages. They ultimately decided to settle out of court. Nothing has been heard about the case since.
What Has Audu Maikori Been Up To?
Since then, Audu Maikori has moved on to bigger and better things in his career. In 2020, he received the Legacy Emerging Leadership Award from the Legacy Global Awards.
In January 2021, he became a Member of the Board of Advisors Esaiyo Inc, a platform that creates ‘social identities’ for objects and stores them on the blockchain.
In March of 2021, Audu Maikori added another feather to his cap as a Board Member of Limitless Studios, a global animation studio producing diverse and inclusive content for kids worldwide.
A year later, in March 2022, he Co-founded Pixel Ray Studios, a Film production and media content consultancy company.
In July 2022, he was one of the speakers in the CIIF Creative Talks held online, where he and other speakers talked about the Business of festivals and Carnivals.
Aud Maikori’s Twitter account is mostly centered around the music industry and a few political tweets. He is also very active in Clubhouse, a social media platform where users communicate in audio in chat rooms. His humanitarian work as the fundraising manager for the Southern Kaduna Relief Group is still ongoing, just like his other projects. We will likely see more of the former music record label executive in the coming years or even months.
To all the Hausa people and the rest of the world, marrying a Hausa girl is quite a rollercoaster. For those unfamiliar with the process, here is a detailed step-by-step guide to a Hausa wedding.
Although a large number of people in this region speak the Hausa language, different tribes among them have their own unique dialects. The Hausa traditional marriage is mostly based on Islamic teachings and is not as time-consuming or expensive as the Igbo and Yoruba traditional marriage ceremonies. However, the process leading up to the marriage is slightly similar to what is obtained in other regions of Nigeria.
The Process of Marrying a Hausa Girl
Approaching the Girl: The man must approach the girl with genuine and respectful intentions of marriage, following traditional customs and etiquette. Initial conversations are respectful and guarded, aimed at understanding each other’s values and compatibility without engaging in physical or romantic interaction.
Asking for Permission (Na Gani Ina So): When a man meets the woman he wants to marry, he must first seek permission from her parents. This is the part where he goes to meet the father for discussion and revelation of his intention. The initiation of this step is usually communicated by the boy through the girl, through her mother/female guardian in most cases then to her father. this is when date adn time for the Na gani ina so is set by the father to meet the boy.
The Investigation: The bride-to-be’s family will then conduct an investigation into the boy’s background to determine his religious beliefs, ethics, morals, and family customs, as well as other important details about his upbringing. If the woman’s family approves, the groom-to-be is allowed to see her briefly, but any form of physical contact, romance, or courting before marriage is highly discouraged.
Involving the Guy’s Parents/Guardians (Gaisuwa): Once the woman accepts the marriage offer, the man sends his parents or guardians, as well as elderly relatives, to formally ask for her hand in marriage. However, this may not be the same for all the tribes in the Hausa communities, as each has different customs regarding marriage rites. The process mentioned above is the most common method.
The Sa Rana (Dowry Bargain/Setting of Wedding Date): On their trip to the bride’s family home to seek her parents’ consent, the groom’s family takes along items such as kola nuts, bags of salt, sweets, etc. It is during this visit that the groom’s parents will make their intentions known. Gaisuwa is a formal approval from the bride’s family to the groom’s. This is usually where the bargain for the bride’s dowry begins. The bride price starts from a minimum amount known as ‘Rubu’u Dinar’ in Hausa, an Arabic phrase meaning ‘quarter kilogram of gold piece’, to the highest amount the groom can afford to pay. It is preferred for the bride price to be as low as possible because, according to Islamic teachings, the lesser the amount paid as the bride’s dowry, the more blessings will come to the marriage.Payment of the dowry is known as ‘sadaki’. Also, the wedding date is fixed during this visit by both families. The process of setting the date is called Sa Rana.
Arranging the Box (Lefe): As part of Hausa tradition, it is the husband’s duty to provide a house for the couple to live in and a box filled with garment and clothes for the bride called Lefe.
The House Furniture (Kayan Daki): Furnishing the house is the full responsibility of the bride’s family.
The Wedding Events:
Kunshi: At the wedding Fatihah, women are to remain indoors, preparing the bride for her new life as a wife, which is referred to as Kunshi. The Kunshi is similar to a bridal shower.
Sa Lalle:This event is strictly for the ladies. This is when the bride gets to spend the last bit of free time with her friends and female family members in her father’s house. A mixture of henna is made and used to create beautiful designs on the bride’s hands, palms, and legs. Her friends and family also get henna designs on their hands, but not as elaborately as those of the bride.
Mother’s Day/Kamun Amarya: Kamu means ‘catch the bride’ and it is one of the oldest and most interesting events in the Hausa wedding tradition. To get the bride, the groom’s family negotiates with the bride’s friends for her release. This is a really fun event, and the negotiation may take up to 30 minutes, followed by a fun reception.
The Wedding Day/Wedding Fatihah: The Fatihah is the most significant event of the entire wedding ceremony. Unlike many other cultures, in Hausa culture, it is a representative from the groom’s and bride’s family that exchanges vows, not the bride and groom themselves. They do this in the presence of a religious priest and wedding guests. Prayers are then offered to the newlywed couple, and the celebration continues.
Reception/Dinner (Walimah): The wedding reception is known as a Walimah and is carried out according to the tastes of the families involved. It is usually held after the Fatihah and goes on for a whole day with food and drinks available for family, friends, and well-wishers.
Conveyance of the Bride (Kai Amarya): Family and friends escort the bride to her matrimonial home to be well-received by the groom’s family. This is usually preceded by prayers and advice from her family. This is not the end of events in a Hausa marriage. Depending on the families’ wealth, there is usually a grand reception to end the entire wedding ceremony. This includes food, music, and entertainment.
Shiga Daki
Sayan Baki: In some parts of the north, this ceremony adds more color and glamour to the wedding. The Sayan Baki is a negotiation between the groom’s men and the bridesmaids, debating on the amount to be paid before the bride is allowed to speak to her groom.
Conclusion
A Hausa wedding is a sacred event conducted differently depending on Hausa tradition. Nowadays, it is not limited to the traditions of Hausa land but has become a household event, with each household doing it differently. However, the general process is as listed in this article.
Literature in northern Nigeria dates back to the 1900s, though, not wildly popular, a number of quite amazing works were published back then. Over the decades, northern Nigerian literature has shown immense improvements in style, genre, and a wide range of topics, but it has still managed to keep its original purpose; the intent of showing the whole world that northern Nigeria goes far beyond the stereotype it’s been placed under.
Northern Nigerian books authors have put in commendable literary skills and have beautifully developed amazing characters to reflect the lives of the underrepresented group of people we know and identify as “the northerners.” These beautiful works in the form of prose and short stories address the issues faced in the day-to-day life of the common northern Nigerian, thereby giving us an insight that allows us to see past the stereotype placed on the common Arewa man.
Here is a list of some awesome Nigerian books by both northern and non-northern writers with characters developed and based in northern Nigeria. These books have been written so beautifully that they manage to give us an insight into different topics, but from the perspective of a Northerner.
Here is the list of Amazing Books Written by Northern Nigerians
1. The Stillborn by Zaynab Alkali (1984)
This book was considered a milestone in African and Nigerian literature. Zaynab Alkali is considered the first female novelist with a Muslim northern background, and her debut novel, ‘The Stillborn, which was published in 1984, follows the story of a thirteen-year-old girl, Li, who has plans to escape the boring life in her small village to go to the big city. However, fate puts a stop to those plans as the death of her father leads her to take up the responsibilities of her household. This novel is centered on the experiences of Li and her struggles for her independence from the traditional values of her family home, marriage, and the lure of the city and all it has to offer.
Other works by Alkali include, The Virtuous Woman (1987), and the Anthology – The Cobwebs and Other Stories (1997).
2. Innocent Victims by Abubakar Gimba (1988)
This was the third book of the late novelist, Abubakar Gimba. It centers on fraud, abuse of power, and political machinery for selfish ends through the story of Faruk Kolo, the Director-General of the Department of Food and Animal Production. A panel has been set up to prove the department’s activities and during this probe, a lot of corrupt practices of the department come to light.
This novel reveals the power struggles and corruption present in the civil service.
Other works of Gimba include Witness to Tears (1987), Sunset for a Mandarin (1992), and Foot Prints (1998).
3. Measuring Time by Helon Habila (2007)
This is one of the Nigerian books written by Helon Habila. Habila’s second novel brings to book the story of twin brothers, Mamo and Lamamo who are birthed and raised in a small village in northern Nigeria. They lost their mother at birth and were left to be raised by a controlling, status-obsessed father. They dream of escaping their small sleepy village. They decide to run away to become soldiers.
This novel beautifully intertwines history, religion, politics, love, colonialism, and military power into one heartwarming story.
Other books by Helon include Waiting for an Angel (2002) and Oil in Water (2010).
4. Personal Angle by Fatima Ba’aram Alkali (2008)
Fatima Ba’aram Alkali’s debut novel, Personal Angle, published in 2008, delves into the world of politics and business and does it through the lives of two women – Zaria (a lawyer) and Basheika (a housewife). Alkali delves headlong into problems encountered in modern-day marriages, among which is a lack of fulfillment in marriages. The story shows how Zaria redeems her dignity and how Basheika sacrifices a lot.
Personal Angle won the 2009 Abuja Writers’ Forum (AWF) Ibrahim Tahir Prize for Prose.
5. The whispering trees by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2012)
Published in 2013, this collection of short stories is the debut book by Abubakar. It employs grief, humor, and excellent language use (almost poetic), which makes reading enjoyable. This collection contains 11 beautifully written short stories which are relatable and enjoyable.
The book was shortlisted for the 2013 Caine Prize for African Writing.
6. Sterile Sky by E. E. Sule (2013)
E. E. Sule’s debut novel gives an insight into an important moment in Nigeria’s sociopolitical history. Sterile Sky tells the story of precious and gifted young Murtala and his coming of age in the ancient city of Kano, where violent riots and his own family’s woes threaten to erase all he holds so dearly. After losing two people very dear to him, he has to survive a lot more than just his sister getting pregnant at a very young age. Murtala finds himself fighting demons both in his mind and in reality. Desperate to preserve a sense of self and the future, he hunts for answers in the wreckage of the city he once knew.
This book gives a unique insight into modern life in northern Nigeria.
E. E. Sule has two short story collections: Impotent Heavens (2004) and Dream and Shame (2007).
7. Season of Crimson Blossoms by Abubakar Adam Ibrahim (2015)
When this book was released in 2015, it faced a lot of criticism and shook a lot of tables, and here is why. The story centers on an illicit love affair between a 55-year-old widow, Hajiya Binta, and a 26-year-old gang lord and drug dealer, Reza. Their illicit sexual affair gives way to a growing bud of feelings that goes against social norms.
This novel gives a unique perspective on life and relationships in northern Nigeria.
The novel won the Nigeria Prize for Literature in 2016.
8. Born on a Tuesday by Elnathan John (2015)
Elnathan John’s debut novel, published in 2016, shook tables because the novel focused on a largely underrepresented group of people and how they come of age. It tells the story of young men seeking purpose in a world ripped apart by political and religious violence. The novel is set in far northwestern Nigeria and follows the story of Dantala whose name translates to ‘Born On A Tuesday’.
Dantala lives among a gang of street boys and during the elections, these boys are paid to cause trouble. After their attempt to burn the local headquarters ends in a disaster, Dantala must run for his life, and on this run, he has to decide what kind of man he wants to be.
Other books by Elnathan include Ajayi Crowther Street (2019) and Be(com)ing Nigerian (2020).
9. City of MEMORIES by Richard Ali (2012)
Richard Ali’s debut novel, City of Memories, which was published in 2012, is a love story set in Northern Nigeria. It is about four characters negotiating the effect of various traumas. Towering above them is the story of Ummi al-Qassim, a princess of Bolewa, and the feud that attended her love first for a nobleman, then for a poet – a feud that bequeaths her with madness and death. All four are bracketed by the modern city of Jos in Central Nigeria, where political supremacy and perverse parental love become motives for an ethnoreligious eruption calculated to destroy Nigeria.
The northern Nigerian books or literature is bound to increase over the decades and lots more amazing books are in prospect of being published.
Before the advent of colonialism and British rule in Nigeria, Hausa society is an organized one with each individual having specific roles and functions. Take, for example, the emirate system of governance. While the Emir—who can be likened to a President in a presidential style of governance— is the overall head, he has subordinates and other officers who assist him. You can call them Ministers. In this article, I will be providing you with a list of Hausa traditional titles and their meanings in English. You will be learning the meanings of the various titles in Hausaland, including the meaning of Sardauna in English.
Let’s go.
List of Hausa Traditional Titles and Meanings in English
Sarki – Emir (President).
Waziri – Vice President.
Sarkin Fada – Chief of Staff.
Garkuwa – Chief of Army staff.
Al-qali – Chief Judge
Wali – Minister of Justice
Sa’i – Minister of religious affairs
Sarkin Ruwa – Minister of water resources.
Ma’aji – Accountant General.
Sarkin ‘Kira – Minister of Power and steal.
Sarkin Dogarai – Chief of Defence staff.
Duba gari – DSS (Leken Asirin cikin gida).
Hakimi – Governor.
Mai gari – Chairman.
Mai unguwa – Councilor.
Majalisar Sarakuna – Senate or House of Representatives.
Galadima – Interior minister (cikin gida).
Madaki – Inspector General of The Police (IGP).
Sarkin Aiyuka – Minister of Works.
Sarkin Noma – Minister of Agriculture.
Jakadiya – Minister of Women affairs.
Sarkin Malamai – Minister or commissioner for Religious affairs.
