_From Dahiru Samaila Mafara, Gusau_
The Zamfara State Government has graduated and certified 700 Auxiliary Social Workers to serve as community protectors and frontline responders to child protection and gender-based violence cases across the 14 Local Government Areas of the state.
The graduation ceremony was held in Gusau on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
In her welcome address, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Aisha M.Z. Anka, paid glowing tribute to Governor Dauda Lawal, describing him as the “Rescue Governor” who rescued not just infrastructure but humanity.
Dr. Anka said when the present administration assumed office, it met a broken social service system, but under the Rescue Agenda, the Governor rebuilt it with compassion and political will.
She listed some of the achievements to include clearing the backlog of counterpart funding which brought back UNICEF, UNFPA and other development partners who had left the state, the domestication of the Child Protection Law and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, and the establishment of the first state-owned Sexual Assault Referral Centre.
She added that the Governor also transformed the Ministry of Women Affairs from a dilapidated facility into a modern multi-storey headquarters equipped with modern facilities and gave unprecedented support for the recruitment and training of the 700 social workers.
The Commissioner expressed profound appreciation to partners who made the training possible. She thanked the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for its collaboration and for securing funding for the training through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two ministries.
She also thanked UNICEF, describing the organization as more than a donor but a family, for its financial support, technical guidance from the Sokoto Field Office and commitment to leaving no child behind.
Dr. Anka equally commended the Federal University Gusau for providing academic rigour and professional training, for designing the Certificate Course in Social Work, providing seasoned lecturers and ensuring quality assurance to professionalize social service delivery in the state.
Explaining the role of the graduates, the Commissioner said the 700 auxiliary social workers are not just volunteers but certified para-professionals carefully selected from all 14 LGAs.
“They have been equipped with modern skills in child protection and safeguarding, Gender-Based Violence case management and referral, psychosocial first aid, and community engagement and sensitization. They will work closely with the Ministry, the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, the police and the judiciary,” she said.
She congratulated the graduands, saying the certificate is not just a document but a call to duty, and urged them to serve with honesty, empathy, confidentiality, professionalism and the fear of Allah.
In his address, Governor Dauda Lawal, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada, said the initiative is part of the state government’s commitment to building a sound system that will cater for and protect children exposed to trauma by the lingering insecurity in the state.
Other speakers at the ceremony included the Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Engr. Garba Yandi Gusau; the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Federal University Gusau, Prof. Aliyu Moyi Kaura; and the Director, Child Protection, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Farida Abdulrazak Adamu.
Danfako Media Correspondent Dahiru Sani Ahmad reports that the event ended with prayers for Allah to continue to grant the Governor wisdom, strength and guidance to lead the state._
