Kaduna Polo Club Partners UNFPA in Novelty Match to Amplify Campaign Against GBV
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
A novelty polo match between El-Amin Polo Club and Kaduna Polo Club on Saturday turned the Kaduna Polo Grounds into a vibrant advocacy arena as players, partners, and policymakers rallied against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in commemoration of the 2025 16 Days of Activism.
The match, organised in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), used the power and prestige of sports to push this year’s global theme on digital violence, highlighting how technology is increasingly being used to perpetrate abuse.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Rabi Salisu, said the choice of polo as an advocacy platform demonstrates how every sector can contribute to ending GBV.
“This sport activity is organized to create awareness on preventing Gender-Based Violence and to unite the public against digital bullying.
“The message is clear: Kaduna State is committed to becoming a GBV-free state, and perpetrators have nowhere to hide,” she said.
Salisu announced that under Governor Uba Sani’s administration, the state has secured 40 GBV-related convictions between 2023 and 2024, compared to past years when as few as one or two convictions were recorded in half a decade.
She described the progress as evidence of “strong political will and a robust justice response.”
She also highlighted the state’s investments in survivor support systems, including strengthened referral pathways, expanded safe spaces, the acclaimed Katuru Road Women and Children Shelter, and the Diversion Centre for children at risk of conflict with the law.
According to her, Kaduna also operates five Sexual Assault Referral Centres and four dedicated family courts, positioning it as one of Nigeria’s leading states in GBV response.
“These interventions reflect the state government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring safety, justice, and dignity for every woman and child,” she said.
UNFPA Resident Representative in Nigeria, Muriel Mafico, emphasised why the 2025 theme is centred on technology-driven GBV.
While digital tools have transformed learning and communication, she noted, they have also created new avenues for harm.
“We are seeing gender-based violence happening online. Women, girls, boys, and men are now vulnerable to digital violence. This is a global concern. Everyone has a role to play,” she said.
Mafico commended the Kaduna Polo Club for reaching out to partner with UNFPA, describing the collaboration as a strategic way to engage influential voices.
“Sports bring people together, and once again they are helping us amplify a critical national issue.
“Together with the Polo Club, we are galloping toward a Nigeria free from gender-based violence,” she said.
She added that while 16 Days of Activism provides a global rallying moment, the commitment must extend beyond December.
Mafico noted that “Every day should be a day of activism. Violence is preventable. The decisions we make as individuals are key to creating safe and protective environments for everyone.”
