Kaduna State is moving to rebuild trust between citizens and government, with a new training that teaches officials to treat trauma as part of the job.
Carefronting Nigeria, under the SPRiNG programme, this week trained security officers, judicial staff, government officials and community leaders on the Trauma-Informed Approach. The goal: ensure that people who seek help don’t leave institutions feeling worse than when they came in.
The 2-day training held in Kaduna drew participants from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, the Kaduna State Multi-Door Court House, the Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth Development, Civil Society Organizations, and traditional and community leaders.
SPRiNG focuses on strengthening systems that support women, girls and other vulnerable groups across the state.
Facilitators walked participants through six practical modules: the impact of trauma on the brain and body, identifying trauma responses, applying trauma-informed principles, creating safe and supportive spaces, avoiding re-traumatisation, and building resilience and self-care.
Senior Programme Manager, Carefronting Nigeria, Ms. Tessy Gusim said the training was about changing mindsets.
“Trauma is not limited to war zones — it permeates our communities, institutions, and daily interactions”, Gusim said. “A survivor coming to a police station or government office is not just bringing a complaint. They are bringing their pain. Our response must reflect that”.
She said Carefronting Nigeria wants to build “trauma literacy” across MDAs — in language, office setup, and service delivery — so citizens feel safe, respected and heard.
Organisers stressed that trauma cuts across security, justice, health and social welfare. That’s why the training mixed participants.
An NSCDC officer sat with a court mediator. A ministry director worked on case studies with a CSO leader and a community head.
“The SPRiNG programme is about one government, one response”, Gusim said. “A response centered on dignity, safety and recovery”.
A Ministry of Women Affairs official described the training as “overdue”, saying most cases involve survivors of violence who need care.
An NSCDC participant said it would change field work. “How we speak to someone in distress can decide if they recover or withdraw”, he said.
Carefronting Nigeria said this is the first of several trainings planned under SPRiNG to institutionalize trauma-informed practices in Kaduna.
“The SPRiNG programme and Carefronting Nigeria remain committed to expanding trauma-informed practices across Kaduna State and beyond”, the organization said.
Stakeholders believe the initiative will improve mental health awareness, make justice more accessible, and make public services more compassionate — particularly for women and children affected by violence and displacement.
For participants, the message was clear: shift from “What is wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” That, they said, is how healing-centered governance begins.
