Hajiya Jamila Lawal cascades German Embassy–IMC paralegal training to women in Rigasa, empowering them to tackle family disputes, prevent violence and promote peaceful conflict resolution.

Women who benefited from a paralegal services training organised by the German Embassy in Abuja, in collaboration with the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), Kaduna, are stepping -down the knowledge they acquired to empower other women in their communities.

Hajiya Jamila Lawal, team leader of the non-governmental organisation 

(Rigasa Yau -da -Gobe Association), has commenced a step-down training for women in Rigasa community, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, north-western Nigeria.

The initiative aims to equip community women with the knowledge and skills needed to understand women's rights, address domestic violence, and contribute to resolving conflicts at the family and community levels.

The step-down training follows a two-day workshop organised by the German Embassy in Abuja in collaboration with the Interfaith Mediation Centre, Kaduna, to strengthen women's capacity to provide basic paralegal support and promote peaceful conflict resolution within their communities.

According to Hajiya Jamila Lawal, sharing the knowledge became necessary because of the important role women play in addressing domestic violence, family disputes, and other social challenges.

She explained that empowering women with practical knowledge of their rights and available support services would enable them to respond more effectively to challenges affecting women and families.

One of the beneficiaries, Maryam Mohammed, said it was her first time learning about issues relating to women's rights.

She expressed appreciation for the opportunity and promised to share the knowledge with other women in neighbouring communities to ensure that more people benefit from the initiative.

The Co-Director of the Interfaith Mediation Centre, Mr Samson Auta, expressed satisfaction with the women's response to the programme, particularly their willingness to take the lessons back to their communities and train others.

Mr Auta said that since the inception of the project in Kaduna, hundreds of women had acquired various skills and knowledge to help them understand their rights, address domestic violence, resolve conflicts, and support other women in their communities.

He noted that the initiative demonstrates how women can serve as community educators and contribute to strengthening access to justice, preventing violence, and promoting peaceful coexistence.

The organisers hope that the step-down sessions will extend the benefits of the original training beyond the initial participants, creating a wider network of informed women who can support their communities through awareness, early intervention, and appropriate referrals to relevant authorities and service providers.