Background
As a follow-up to the successful June 15th workshop organized in partnership with the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, with the theme ‘Say yes to what empowers you, say no to what endangers you,’ which had 170 participants from 5 different schools, including some youths from Shendam and Jos, AFJN-N Youths from Jos and Shendam areas of Plateau State proposed to carry out a follow-up visit to the four (4) Chiefs of the four chiefdoms that make up the entire Gomai nation in Shendam Local government Area of Plateau state, Nigeria. Approval was given by the leadership of AFJN Nigeria and in Washington for Youths from Jos and Shendam (in the company of the Dominican Sisters if possible) to plan and carry out the follow-up visit to the four Royal fathers, and to carry out a media advocacy through the radio Station in Shendam – Agro FM 91.5.
The advocacy visit was successfully planned and executed from Wednesday 17th July 2024 to Thursday, 18th July 2024 with a special focus on early child marriage, human trafficking and domestic servitude.
Three youths from Jos joined the newly established AFJN youth advocacy group in Shendam for the advocacy visits, accompanied by Rev. Sr. Bernadette Duru O.P. and Mr. Valentine Benjamin, a Journalist for Global Sisters report.
THE PLAN
Following weeks of meetings and planning, the following four chiefs of the four chiefdoms of Shendam were identified as key stakeholders and influential rulers of their people:
The chief of Duut Chiefdom, His Royal Highness, Miskoom Kenneth Kwaptoe, the chief of Jakatau Chiefdom, His Royal Highness, Miskoom James Langkwap, the chief of Drateng Chiefdom, His Royal Highness, Miskoom Thomas Kwaptoe Yunkwap, and the chief of Dorok Chiefdom, His Royal Highness, Miskoom Godwin Shakum. A discussion program on Agro Fm 91.5 Shendam was also scheduled and aired on Thursday, 18th July 2024, as part of our media advocacy drive to create more awareness among the people as regards the dangers of early marriage, human trafficking and domestic servitude.
Group photograph with the chief of Duut Chiefdom, His Royal Highness, Miskoom Kenneth Kwaptoe (middle) with his cabinet members.
A group photograph of the team.
ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE CHIEFS
The team were warmly welcomed and received by the Chiefs and their cabinet members, who were happy to see young people involved in advocacy for social justice and the general good of society especially as regards to early child marriage, domestic servitude and human trafficking.
We engaged the Chiefs on the dangers of early child marriage and domestic servitude and how they are adversely affecting young people and the future generation, and how they as traditional rulers are key stakeholders as royal fathers and custodians of the laws and traditions of the land, hence, they can make laws or introduce policies that will guard against such practices within their community/district. All the Chiefs agreed that the issues were serious and indeed present within their district which is a serious source of concern for them as Royal Fathers.
Of particular interest, was the Chief of Dorok chiefdom, His Royal Highness, Miskoom Godwin Shakum who said that he had decreed a law within his district that all married women must cover their hair when going out in public as a way of maintaining decency, in response, we appealed for a similar decree within his district against early child marriage, which we promised to discuss with his chiefs. We intend to follow up with him on that.
The chiefs promised to organize a town-hall meeting and invite us (AFJN) to enlighten their people on the dangers and risks of early child marriage, domestic servitude and human trafficking. We were also informed that efforts had been made in the past to curtail some of ills mentioned but some parents and community members deliberately sabotage the efforts due to their selfish reasons.
Group photograph with the chief of Jakatau Chiefdom, His Royal Highness, Miskoom James Langkwap (middle) with his cabinet members.
The team is received by the chief of Dorok Cheifdom (seated)
Group photograph with the chief of Dorok Chiefdom, His Royal Highness, Miskoom Godwin Shakum (middle) with his cabinet members.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Following the successful advocacy visits, we recommend the following:
- Continuous engagement with the traditional institution as key stakeholders in this mission as we observe that they wield significant influence over their people and are regarded with high esteem
- A short (30 – 60 seconds) jingle/message on the radio would go a long way to sensitize the people on issues surrounding early child marriage, human trafficking and domestic servitude
- A listener during the radio programme met us at the station's entrance with a suggestion that more sensitization and awareness are needed in Langtang South and Kanam local government areas of Plateau state where these cases of early child marriage are more prevalent. This should be considered as an area of interest soon.
CONCLUSION
The AFJN-N youth sincerely appreciates the leadership of the African Faith and Justice Network for this opportunity to be part of the workshop in Shendam, and to be part of the extension of AFJN youth in the Shendam local government Area of Plateau State, we especially wish to thank Rev. Sr. Bernadette Okure, Rev. Sr. Eucharia Madueke for their continuous support and encouragement for the youth. We also want to thank Rev. Sr. Bernadette Duru O.P. and the Dominican Sisters for their hospitality and collaboration with the youth.
We hope that this little seed we have (and are still planting) in shendam will grow to bear much fruits as we continue to fight against injustices and social vices in our community, our country and beyond.
Some pictures from the radio programme on agro Fm. 91.5. Shendam.
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