By Ibrahim Muhammad
The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has organised a novelty football match with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano Zonal Command, as part of activities marking the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The match, played in Kano, ended 4–1 in favour of the CITAD Male Feminist Network (MFN) Team, though organisers stressed that the aim was advocacy, not competition.
Kano State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Children and Disabled, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, described the initiative as a creative way to mobilise public support.
“This match is not about winning or losing,” she said. “It is about drawing attention to gender-based violence and reminding everyone that the fight requires collective commitment. I commend both CITAD and NAPTIP for championing this cause.”
MFN Project Officer, Sani Sa’idu Muhammad, said football was deliberately chosen to reach wider audiences.
“We used football to show unity and encourage men to take a strong stand against gender-based violence,” he said. “Men must be allies, not spectators, in this struggle.”
Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), Victoria Ose Udoh, urged participants to build on the spirit of the match.
“In advocacy, everyone here is a winner,” she noted. “The scoreline does not matter. What matters is that both teams commit to promoting safety, equality and support for survivors.”
NAPTIP Gender Officer, Hajiya Rasheeda Aminu, commended CITAD for the initiative, noting that such collaborations enhance the fight against gender-based violence.
“This kind of partnership strengthens our work,” she said. “CITAD has done well by using sports to raise awareness, and we look forward to more initiatives that help us tackle gender-based violence.”
The match drew civil society groups, youth organisations and supporters, who used the platform to amplify calls for stronger measures to curb gender-based violence across communities.
