Establish cultural centre at Gushegu - Director

A call has been made for the establishment of a cultural centre in the Gushegu Municipality in the Northern Region to educate and entertain the youth in the area.

Mr Nashiru Basharu, an Assistant Director at the Gushegu Municipal Assembly, who made the call, said the cultural centre would also promote the physical and mental wellbeing of children, unearth hidden talents in the youth as well as develop the cultural values in the area.

He was speaking at a stakeholders' workshop organised by the Pan–African Organization for Research and Protection of Violence on Women and Children (PAORP- VWC) with funding from Child Right Africa (CRA) of Germany.

It was to build the capacity of stakeholders to protect the rights of children in the Municipality.

The event was held under the theme: "Child Right Promotion and Protection in the Gushegu Municipality, the Roles of Community Chiefs and Stakeholders".

Mr Basharu also called on assembly members, opinion leaders, security agents and traditional authorities to play leading roles in the fight against the abuse of children in the area.

Miss Priscila Yel-oni, Project Officer of PAORP-VWC, reiterated calls for the Gushegu Municipal Assembly to enact bylaws to check early marriage, forced marriage, child trafficking and abuse of children in the area.

Mr Jafaru Mohammed, Gushegu Municipal Director of CHRAJ, made a presentation on laws and policies protecting the rights of children in the country calling on all to respect the laws to ensure the wellbeing of children.

Mr Bawa Abdulai Yakubu of PAORP-VWC said the organization has acquired over 30 acres of land to among others engage in farming activities to enable it feed children rescued from child trafficking.

Some participants urged the assembly to enforce the laws to monitor and deal ruthlessly with those, who impregnated pupils.