WOMEN’S RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT AND PROTECTION ALTERNATIVE (WRAPA)

Islamic Family Law And Practices In North Western Nigeria Project

J4A PILOT IMPLEMENTATION

____________________________________________________

REPORT OF PROJECT TEAM MEETING POST FATWA COMMITTEE MEETING

 

The IFL Project Team meeting was held on 3th April 2016 at JNI HQ Kaduna. (4pm-6-pm)

 

1. Present:
2. Project Consultant 1– Barrister Aliyu Musa Yauri
3. Project Director –   Saudatu Shehu Mahdi (Secretary General WRAPA)
4. Project Patron-     Sheihk Sa’ad Muhammad Ngamdu
5. Project Consultant – Khadi Bashir B/Kudu
6. Project Consultant – Malama Murja Duwan
7. Project Accountant- Shafiu Barde
8. WRAPA Admin/Programme- Muhammad I Maifada
9. Mall. Naziru Sa’ad M. Ngamdu
10. Haj. Inno Sokoto

 

2. Objective of the Meeting:

The Project Director convened the meeting:

1. a) To do an appraisal of the meeting of the JNI National Standard Fatwa Committee (JNI/NSFC)
2. b) To discuss and agree on the way forward regarding three critical activities tied to the approval – baseline assessment, piloting the implementation of the Khutbah and conducting a rudimentary impact assessment.
3. c) To agree on the concept, techniques, and content of the Communication training/Conference for the Pilot Imams as well as the selection of the trainers and finalize the dates for all the related activities.

 

3. Team Appraisal of JNI/NSFC Meeting
4. i) The team discussed the process of the JNI/NSFC meeting reflecting on the questions raised by the members and the responses given by the project team. It was agreed that the strategy to bring the project team to support the meeting had proved effective. The outcome will prove its worth as a value for money action. Overall the team expressed satisfaction and optimism for the decision on the The details of the dialogue between the JNI/NSFC and the project team will be compiled by the Project Consultant 1; Barrister Aliyu Musa Yauri for the records.

 

1. ii) The JNI PRO and Secretary JNI/NSFC later briefed the team. He indicated:
2. a) That there was general consensus for an approval of the Khutbah text, its intended purpose as well as its dissemination as proposed by WRAPA.
3. b) The resolution of the members to affect some detected errors, which are mainly typographical, and thereafter (within a week) forward to the Secretary for effecting and harmonization. Thereafter he would forward and formally convey the approval.
4. c) The expression of satisfaction with the role of WRAPA and other CSO organizations in the promotion and protection of Islamic principles and the interest of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria.
5. d) That based on the JNI/NSFC positive impression of WRAPA and the IFL project, the Committee resolved to recommend to the main body of the JNI to consider expanding its engagement with civil society groups.

 

 

 

 

4. Team Resolutions/ Recommendations:

 

1. i) Concept: It was agreed that the Imams attending the training should be made to:
2. a) Understand the concept and objective of the project.
3. b) That the decline in family values and denials of marital rights informed the introduction of the Khutbah and its complementary tools.
4. c) Understand their key important role in passing the message to the Muslim Ummah through the Khutbah.

 

1. ii) Technique: The Team resolved to logically rename the training an interactive communication workshop. It was also resolved that:
2. a) The trainers should make the workshop highly interactive, without losing control of its proceedings.
3. b) Room should be given to the Imams at the start of the workshop to make inputs on the subject of the rights of women in marital relationships; especially in the context of their experiences as Imams who are a reference point in the solemnization of marriages and resolution of the tensions arising in family life of their communities.
4. c) The trainers should analyze and extract key points/messages in the 4 selected themes for the pilot Khutbah and focus on them during the workshop.
5. d) The trainers should use practical experiences especially those backed by Hadiths to drive home the legitimacy of the rights of women in marital relationships.

 

iii) Content: The team extensively discussed and agreed to use the following themes as selected (from the full text) for the Pilot Khutbah implementation:

1. a) “The position of women under Islam” (1^st Khutbah)
2. b) “Marital life under Islam” (2nd Khutbah)
3. c) “A Woman’s right on her Guardian” (4^th Khutbah)
4. d) “Maintenance & a Husband’s obligation to his wife” (6^th Khutbah)

 

5. Selection of Communication Trainers:

The team deliberated and approved the suggested names forwarded by the Project Director. These are; Hon. Khadi Bashir Birnin Kudu, Dr Usman Shehu Zunnurain and Dr. Umar Abdallah Gadon Kaya as the Communication workshop facilitators/trainers.

 

6. Dates and Venues:

The team discussed and agreed:

1. a) On 11^th April 2016 for the Data Clerks training in Abuja.
2. b) On 17^th April, 2016 for the Pilot Imam’s Communication workshop in Abuja
3. c) On 15^th and 22^nd April 2016 for the Baseline assessment in the 21 respective mosques
4. d) On the dates for the piloting of the implementation of the Khutbah as 29^th April, 6^th, 13^th and 20^th May (total of 4 Fridays).
5. e) On 27^th May 2016 for the Impact assessment which is only in one of the three pilot mosques of each state.

 

7. Sectoral Dialogue: The team resolved to exclude the visitation to State Governors during the pilot phase. However all planned Sectoral visits should commence and complement the media sensitization and actual implementation of the Khutbah.

 

 

 

Signed

Mohammed Maifada                                                     Barrister Aliyu Musa Yauri

Ex. Admin & Prog                                                             Project Consultant 1