By Nworisa Michael
The International Federation of Women Lawyers Kano State branch on Thursday commemorated the 2026 International Women’s Day with a public lecture and stakeholders’ engagement aimed at strengthening family responsibility and community security.
The event, held on March 13 at Mumbayya House in Kano, was organised in partnership with Save the Children and brought together civil society organisations, community-based organisations, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and legal practitioners.
Delivering the welcome address, the Secretary-General of FIDA Kano, Fatima Ahmad, highlighted the organisation’s commitment to protecting vulnerable members of society and promoting justice.
She explained that FIDA was founded in 1944 in Mexico City and was later established in Kano in 1992. According to her, the organisation focuses on providing legal representation to vulnerable persons, carrying out policy advocacy campaigns, engaging communities, and promoting the wellbeing of women, children, and persons with special needs.
Ahmad also clarified that the acronym “FIDA” is derived from the Spanish name “Federación Internacional de Abogadas,” meaning the International Federation of Women Lawyers.
A key highlight of the event was a paper presentation by Prof. Habu Muhammad Fagge titled “Safe Homes, Secure Future: The Intersection of Parental Accountability and Collective Security in Kano State.”
(See FIDA event video here): https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DiRduf9Se
In his presentation, Prof. Habu linked rising social problems such as phone snatching and cases of violence within families to the weakening of family structures, which he described as the basic unit of society. He also warned that declining family and community ties have contributed to growing insecurity, noting that many people now live in neighbourhoods without knowing their neighbours or extended family members.
He further pointed to the influence of global digital culture, particularly through mobile phones and social media, which he said can negatively affect young people’s psychology despite parental efforts to guide them.
The programme also resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among participating civil society and community-based organisations to establish the Coalition of Human Rights Advocates and Child Protectors in Kano.
Participants said the coalition would work collectively to strengthen advocacy, improve child protection mechanisms, and promote human rights across the state.
