Abubakar Garba Ngulde is a Medical Professional who has become widely known and respected around the globe for his work in poverty alleviation and the promotion of sustainable development, with a special focus on the empowerment of the less privileged in difficult circumstances. He is currently the founder and Executive Director/CEO of Ngulde Global Foundation (NGF360).
Our safeguarding journey with the Resource and Support Hub (RSH) span over five months between October 2021 and March 2022. NGF360 was selected for this life-changing mentorship training organised by RSH, and Kabati Baba Tokara (Gender and Safeguarding Specialist) led the mentoring sessions. The mentorship started with an Organisational Culture Capacity Assessment on safeguarding followed by action plans to address identified gaps.
We now have a comprehensive understanding of workplace safety in the following areas: safeguarding violations, accessing and planning for safeguarding, and what to do in the event of a problem.
In order to keep people safe from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH) and other forms of harm caused by the misuse of power, NGF360 designed a safeguarding policy for its employees and conducted awareness campaigns and training for all staff and representatives.
The Board of Trustees, staff, and volunteers participated in the training, while awareness at the community level was conducted with community members.
NGF360 has been greatly successful in delivering this training and increasing community awareness and engagement. The Board of Trustees is now aware of the new safeguarding policy and procedures and has signed them into law. The community members have been sensitised on the organisation’s stand to zero tolerance against SEAH and other safeguarding concerns.
Some participants at the training expressed the following:
Bulama Muhammad Abubakar, a community leader who participated in the awareness session and community engagement on safeguarding, stated: "Now, our people are aware of what safeguarding is all about and the community feedback mechanisms in place, we feel better protected from perpetrators. We believe we now have a safe refuge, something we previously lacked."
Ruth Luka, a community volunteer who was granted the opportunity to volunteer with NGF360, commented, "I have worked as a volunteer for numerous organisations, but was ignorant about safeguarding and I feel that I might have caused harm in the past without knowing. Now that I understand safeguarding, I am able to consciously take steps to protect individuals from harm, avoid harm myself, and keep myself and my organisation safe. "
Additionally, NGF360 Programme Manager Jadingari Kalbam stated: "Prior to working under pressure, I denied my field officers the right to share their opinions on programme issues. This was especially the case due to late reporting times during field operations. Now I realise that everyone, not just officers and managers, has the freedom to express themselves in the workplace."
"Members of the NGF360 Board of Directors gave me the opportunity to serve as executive director; but, my outdated knowledge prevented me from recognising safeguarding risks. However, as a result of RSH's mentoring sessions, I am now able to identify, mitigate and manage issues resulting from safeguarding violations," said Abubakar Garba Ngulde.