The Kano Botanical Garden (KBG) recently welcomed Directors of Centers for Gender studies and counsellors from twelve universities across Nigeria, for the trauma program session.
The Independent Mirror reports that the sessions were held from August 18 to 22, 2025, at the scenic Kano Botanical Garden, which provided a natural setting to “stimulate the senses and engage the mind.”
The program was led by Ambassador Safiya Ahmad Nuhu, Director of the Centre for Gender Studies, who emphasized the importance of trauma awareness in counselling university students.
The session also it was an experience-sharing exercise organised by the Centre for Gender Studies, Bayero University Kano (BUK), in collaboration with Alliances for Africa (AfA), an NGO that promotes safe spaces for students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
The sessions focused on survivor-centered care, trust-building, ethical practice, confidentiality, and informed consent. Participants engaged in a mix of presentations, role-play, and practical exercises
They were anchored by Ms. Silvia Reyes, Managing Director of the International Registry of Counsellor Education Programs (IRCEP), U.S., and assisted by Sr. Kate Ekwe who presented the important things.
The President of the Kano Botanical Garden, Prof. Fatima Batul Mukhtar, represented by the Garden’s Director, Mr. Aliyu Ahmad, led participants on a tour of the garden, explaining the link between nature, trauma counselling, and the medicinal values of various plants.
The training, titled “Five-Day Residential Training for Counsellors and Directors of Gender Centres from 12 Partner Universities on Trauma-Informed Student Support,” featured representatives from Bayero University Kano (BUK) Kaduna State University (KASU) Lagos State University (LASU) Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU)
Others University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) University of Jos (UNIJOS) Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam (COOU) University of Ibadan (UI) Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU)
