By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government is strengthening efforts to make public service delivery more compassionate and responsive to the needs of vulnerable residents through a trauma-informed approach to governance.
The initiative, facilitated by Carefronting Nigeria under the SPRiNG programme, concluded a two-day training in Kaduna aimed at equipping frontline officials with the skills to support women, girls and other vulnerable groups without exposing them to further emotional distress.
The training brought together personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna State Multi-Door Court House, Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth Development, civil society organisations, as well as community and traditional leaders.
The SPRiNG programme focuses on strengthening systems that protect vulnerable populations across the state.
Training Targets Trauma-Sensitive Service Delivery
Participants were taken through six modules covering the impact of trauma, identifying trauma responses, applying trauma-informed principles, creating safe environments, preventing re-traumatisation, and promoting self-care and resilience.
Speaking on the initiative, Senior Programme Manager of Carefronting Nigeria, Ms. Tessy Gusim, said public institutions must recognise that people seeking assistance may already be dealing with experiences of violence, loss and fear.
“Trauma is not limited to war zones — it permeates our communities, institutions, and daily interactions,” Gusim said.
She noted that the way officials respond to survivors seeking help could either support their recovery or deepen their distress.
Gusim said the programme seeks to build trauma awareness across ministries, departments and agencies by encouraging changes in communication, office environments and service delivery practices.
Multi-Sector Collaboration To Improve Support
Organisers said the training brought together stakeholders from different sectors because trauma-related challenges cut across security, justice, healthcare and social welfare.
The sessions encouraged collaboration among security personnel, court mediators, government officials, civil society advocates and community leaders to develop coordinated responses that prioritise safety, dignity and recovery.
“The SPRiNG programme is about one coordinated response,” Gusim said, stressing the need for a system centred on the welfare of vulnerable people.
A participant from the Ministry of Women Affairs described the training as timely, noting that many people who approach the ministry for assistance are survivors who require sensitive and compassionate care.
An NSCDC officer also said the programme had changed his understanding of frontline service delivery, observing that an official’s tone could either encourage a distressed person or discourage them from seeking help.
Carefronting Nigeria Plans Further Training
Carefronting Nigeria said the Kaduna training was the first in a series of planned activities under the SPRiNG programme to institutionalise trauma-informed practices across the state.
“The SPRiNG programme and Carefronting Nigeria remain committed to expanding trauma-informed practices across Kaduna State and beyond,” the organisation stated.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that the initiative would improve mental health awareness, strengthen access to justice and promote more compassionate social protection services, particularly for women and children affected by violence.
The training emphasised the need for public officials to move beyond asking what is wrong with a person to understanding what they may have experienced, a shift participants said could help make public institutions more responsive to the needs of vulnerable residents.
