Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology (MJNUAT) is dedicated to combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and promoting equality within society.

This commitment was reaffirmed today, March 20, 2025, by Acting Vice Chancellor Dr. Lekumok Kironyi during the opening of a one-day training and campaign session aimed at combating GBV for MJNUAT staff at the Oswald Mang’ombe Campus, Butiama District.

“This campaign is part of our ongoing efforts to contribute to the national fight against Gender-Based Violence. I urge everyone to take this campaign seriously and fully engage in both the training and the campaign to protect the reputation of our university,” Dr. Kironyi emphasized.

Dr. Kironyi also noted that GBV can occur anywhere, depending on individuals' actions towards one another.

“Statistically, GBV affects 30% of women globally, while in Tanzania, 40% of women aged 15 to 49 experience GBV. Specifically, 44% of women suffer GBV from intimate partners. Potentially, among MJNUAT staff, whether at work or at home, we may be contributing to these statistics. Therefore, it is crucial that we receive this training to help reduce the scale of the problem,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jacquiline Ndosi, Head of the Diversity Unit at MJNUAT, highlighted that GBV cases are common in universities and have a negative impact on both student well-being and staff performance.

“We are committed to eliminating Gender-Based Violence at our university. Today, we have established the Gender Desk, where individuals can report any incidents of GBV confidentially,” said Dr. Ndosi.

The training was conducted as part of the Higher Education for Economic Transformation (HEET) Project, which aims to enhance staff capacity at various levels regarding GBV. Similar training sessions were previously held for MJNUAT students to raise awareness on this critical issue.