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  • Eliminating FGM

    Eliminating FGM

    Last month, Nigeria hosted the 13th Annual Technical Consultation of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), also known as female circumcision. FGM refers to all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the practice, which is deeply rooted in tradition, has no health benefits. FGM is said to violate girls’ and women’s human rights and can leave enduring physical, psychological, and social consequences.

    Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, attended the opening ceremony, and called for collective action “towards a future free from female genital mutilation.” Her presence and involvement underlined the need for urgent action towards “transformation in our communities.” 

    The event drew experts from more than 24 countries to strategise on ending the harmful practice by 2030. The practice not only violates human rights but also poses serious health risks, including complications during childbirth and psychological trauma, according to experts. The Technical Consultation served as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and the development of innovative approaches to tackle the issue.

    About 19.9 million Nigerian women and girls are reported to have undergone FGM, which means that the country has the third highest number of females scarred by FGM worldwide.  The geo-political zones in Nigeria with the highest FGM prevalence are South- East and South-West.

    A gripping BBC story, published in March, about a FGM survivor with Nigerian roots, Valerie Lomari, gave further insights into FGM-related emotional and physical trauma.  UK-based Valerie, aged 52, was subjected to FGM as a 16-year-old in a Nigerian village. After university, she got married and relocated to the UK.  “Being intimate has always been difficult for me,” she said, painting a picture of FGM consequences.  The mother-of-three recalled that “the births were so painful.” 

    Five years ago, she set up Women of Grace, an organisation that supports FGM survivors in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and London. “We educate families and I speak in schools about the dangers of FGM. It is a violation and needs to be stopped through education,” she said. “FGM is a life sentence and I am still living with the physical and emotional trauma… I won’t stop telling my story until this barbaric practice no longer exists.”  She was recently invited to New York to give a speech about FGM at a United Nations (UN) conference.

    Similarly gripping is the story of US-based Atanda Gbadegeshin Adedokun who fears that if he returned to Nigeria with his family, his daughter, Sarah, would be subjected to FGM, and his sons, Joseph and Emmanuel, would be subjected to “facial laceration.”  He hails from Iwere-Ile, Oyo State, where, he said, both practices were “in accordance with their traditional religious worship and culture.” 

    FGM is still being practised in parts of Oyo State, according to a report issued by a Nigerian organisation focused on youth and environmental health.  The Executive Director, Value Re-orientation for Community Enhancement (VARCE), Ademola Adebisi, said: “In the course of my investigation, I discovered that those who hide their children, or even run away with them so as not to undergo this barbaric act, are compelled to bring the children back home to carry out rites, or risk being excommunicated and ostracised, or even called bastards.”

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    This corroborates Adedokun’s account that when he visited his hometown, in February 2022, he was “informed of the mandatory requirement to bring my family back so that we can be ‘sanctified’ before the deity for refusing to have my daughter genitally mutilated, and my sons facially lacerated.”

    VARCE reported the case of one Adeagbo Adebimpe, who said after she was tricked into returning to her hometown, Aroro, Idi Obi, in Oyo State, with her two young daughters, they were subjected to FGM without her consent. 

    Adedokun’s refusal to cooperate with traditionalists in his hometown is based on his wife’s experience as a FGM victim, and his own experience as “a victim of facial laceration marks.” His wife, of Mende origin, was subjected to FGM “when she was a child in Sierra Leone,” he said, and has continued to suffer “severe menstrual pains, lack of sexual arousal and pleasure, and difficulties during childbirth.”

    “I was a victim of facial laceration marks,” he said.  “Till today, it is difficult for me to look at myself in the mirror and any time I gather the courage to do so, I shudder…The laceration and mutilation marks on my face since childhood affected my emotional and mental well-being.”

    According to him, he continues to receive messages demanding that he should return to Iwere-Ile with his family “to be ‘purified’ and ‘sanctified’.” He has been threatened with physical injury and death, should he fail to comply.

    These stories show the gravity of the FGM issue in Nigeria. UNFPA and UNICEF are collaborating with the Federal Ministries of Women Affairs and Health towards achieving the objectives of the largest global programme on eliminating FGM, UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation: Delivering the Global Promise. The UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme is currently in its fourth phase (2022-2030).

    FGM is a global concern. In 2012, the UN General Assembly designated February 6 as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, “with the aim to amplify and direct the efforts on the elimination of this practice.”  An authoritative report shows that the largest numbers of victims are in African countries, accounting for 144 million cases, followed by 80 million in Asia and 6 million in the Middle East.

    Introduced in 2008, the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme supports interventions in 17 countries, including Nigeria, and influences global anti-FGM efforts through knowledge sharing and advocacy.  

    Importantly, the Joint Programme supports the development of enabling policies and legal frameworks, access to essential services, girls’ and women’s empowerment, and community-led social and gender norms change by working in partnership with governments, civil society, development partners, and communities. This is in line with the 2030 Agenda of Sustainable Development in five priority states in Nigeria, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Imo and Ebonyi.

    In 2015, former President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, also known as the VAPP Act. Section 6 of the Act prohibits harmful traditional practices like FGM. This raises the question of enforcement.

    Understandably, UNFPA and UNICEF are worried that the world will miss the target of ending FGM by 2030 without urgent action. The country’s authorities should be concerned too.

  • Zero FGM Day: Survivors call for end to practice

    Zero FGM Day: Survivors call for end to practice

    It was an emotionally charged atmosphere as survivor after survivor came up to speak at the one-day seminar in Lagos. They were women from different parts of the country—from the South-West, South-East to Northern parts of Nigeria. They all shared similar pains: they had all been victims of Female Genital Mutilation as children and all continue to feel the negative impacts of FGM or female circumcision in their adult lives.

    It was at a recent seminar organized by the NGO Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE) in conjunction with another nonprofit, Hearts100. It was to mark the ‘International Day on Zero Tolerance for FGM’ and held in Lagos. Of interest was that of the six female speakers at the seminar, three had experienced FGM.

    Ololade Ajayi, a gender rights activist and founder of DOHS Care Foundation for Vulnerable Women and Children, related her FGM experience back in Ekiti State and how it continues to impact her marriage. ‘My saving grace is that I have an understanding husband because like every other victim, FGM affects our sex life,’ she said. Mrs. Ajayi went on to narrate first hand experiences of victims back home in her childhood in Ekiti including those who died due to bleeding while others had infections including sepsis, infertility as well as various forms of psychological trauma and how many of the victims were stigamised or blamed for the ordeals.

    Speaking in similar vein, eminent gender rights advocate and founder of the Tonia Bruised But Not Broken Foundation, revealed the difficulties of coping in her marriage in the aftermaths of FGM carried out on her in childhood as well as rape experiences with a family member (uncle) which are some of the spurs for her current work fighting for abused women and children.

    Another speaker and also a survivor, Yinka Kenny, Executive Director of the Yinka Kenny Girls Foundation, said health workers especially nurses do cut babies at hospitals without the consent of their parents and said the practice must be stopped. She also encouraged school girls at the seminar to speak up against FGM. ‘Your voice is your power, don’t let anyone shut it up,’ she said.

    Mrs. Bridget Simon, a trader from Ifelodun community narrated her FGM experience and how her younger sister died from female circumcision during her childhood days in her home state of  Ebonyi. She revealed that she has fought moves so far to circumcise her four daughters.

    Kingsley Obom-Egbulem, author, youth mentor and a public heath advocate who was also a speaker at the event, said the reproductive health, mental health and general wellbeing of women and girls are impacted by FGM.  “No human part should be cut. FGM implies that humans are playing God, questioning why He created the clitoris.’’ He added that men should support the fight against FGM so that the national campaign could gain momentum.

    Chief Agbo Enenche, a traditional Chief from Benue State who also attended the meeting stressed the need for campaigners to always align with traditional authorities as that would ensure the success of the campaigns considering the connection and power that such leaders weigh in their domains. ‘Though FGM is not practiced in my place (Orokam) or local government (Ogbadibo) to my knowledge, there are other aspects of the culture that can be improved upon and that is only possible if activists work closely with the local authorities,’ he said.

    Founder of Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP), leading women’s rights activists, Mrs. Bose Ironsi, quoted the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Nigeria’s statistics which estimates that in 2023, more than 4.3 million girls are at risk of FGM with the number being projected to reach 4.6 million by 2030.

    Mrs. Ironsi, a retired nurse, said the reasons for female circumcision are mostly false. ‘There are no biological or medical reasons for FGM; it is all about the need to control women’s bodies. Women should not accept female circumcision as a norm,’ she said. According to her, while the male circumcision is to enhance maximum sexual pleasure for males (besides some health benefits), the opposite is the case for women, which she termed a gross violation of the human rights of women.

    Earlier in her opening remarks, Betty Abah, CEE-HOPE’s Founder, emphasized the need for FGM-related issues to be put on public burners because it is a life and death matter considering the fact that many innocent women and girls have had their lives cut short because of the practice while some others continue to live with invisible yet painful scars. “We need to keep encouraging women and girls to speak up against FGM, and this can be achieved when government enforces the law and mete out punishment to those carrying out the practice or encouraging it at any level.”

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    Ms. Anne Rüffer, founder of the partner organization, Hearts100s, stressed the need for the Nigerian government to address issues around Sexual And Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) by creating awareness about the issues and implementing existing laws.  “There is need to pressurize lawmakers to activate the relevant laws to protect women and girls even as we work to scale up our efforts in providing protection for women threatened by SGBV via our shelter (Hearts of Hope) as well as provide economic empowerment for these and other vulnerable women across Nigeria via psychosocial support, skills training, business grants and others.”

    The seminar also witnessed the screening of several multimedia productions by CEE-HOPE and Hearts100 on the FGM campaign namely interviews including that of Ms Debbie Ariyo, Founder of AFRUCA-UK and also those of survivors including Ms Fatima Dawud from Borno State.

    According to Ref World, an international charity, in Nigeria, the estimated prevalence of FGM among women aged 15 to 49 is 24.8 per cent. Also, over 20 million women and girls in the country have undergone FGM. This represents 10 per cent of the global total of FGM cases.

  • FGM: 137 Osun communities abandon the cutting tradition

    FGM: 137 Osun communities abandon the cutting tradition

    Despite efforts by the Federal Government, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders to end female genital mutilation, the trend continues to thrive in some Southwestern states. Gladly, ADESOJI ADENIYI reports that 137 communities in Osun State have publicly agreed to abandon the age-long cutting tradition.

    Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to the partial or complete removal of the external female genitalia. It is typically done between infancy and the age of 15, but adult women may also undergo the procedure.

    The term includes any injury to a woman or girl’s genitalia for reasons other than medical ones, commonly religious.

    Human rights crusaders maintain that female genital mutilation is one of the most extreme manifestations of the disempowerment of girls and women. Experts believe it is also a practice that is thousands of years old which results in physical, psychological and emotional damage. This includes excruciating pain and trauma as well as risks of hemorrhage and infection. This is frequently followed by years of pain and complications, including urinary and menstrual retention.

    FGM is a deep-rooted social practice that is carried out because, in practising communities, it is believed to be essential for marriage and ‘proper’ womanhood. Interventions to end the practice need to be based on this understanding.

    Experts maintain that working closely with communities to support their own collective action to abandon the practice is the most effective and sustainable approach.

    Based on the above, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Osun State government and other stakeholders have joined forces to rid communities in Osun State of harmful traditional practice such as female genital mutilation. About 137 communities in Osun State have agreed to end the cutting tradition.

    The public declaration is a great feat because it is a community-led exercise. Some of the communities led by their traditional rulers have made traditional declarations by publicly condemning the act, even as they agreed to end FGM in their domains.

    Fourty-seven communities made the declaration in Orolu council area, 39 in Ife East Local Government area and 51 in Oriade Local Government Area. The most recent was in Iyanfoworogi in Ife East Local Government Area.

    Southwest Report gathered that the practice of female genital mutilation still thrives as a result of some cultural beliefs of the people to the effect that female genital mutilation helps in preventing the would-be grown up lady from being promiscuous and to ensure that a woman remains a virgin until marriage.

    However, some cultural fundamentalists also believe that it is part of the rituals ladies must go through to be considered as real women as it increases their sexual pleasure.

    According to recent report by WHO, 100 million girls have been mutilated globally and 10 per cent of them are from Nigeria.

    Speaking at a ceremony for signing of an undertaking to stop the age long practice, representatives of the communities acknowledged that FGM has adverse effects on the lives of the women, particularly the female children.

    Key stakeholders, including traditional rulers and chiefs, mothers, school girls, community leaders as well as traditional circumcisers were present at the ceremony held at Ife-Ooye Local Council Development Area (LCDA). The communities regretted indulging in the practice which they said they have promoted because of traditional beliefs and customs.

    Speaking at the event, the UNICEF FGM Consultant for Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states, Mrs. Aderonke Olutayo, said  FGM was not only harmful but also against nature as it destroys the wholesome and beautiful way women and girls were created.

    She said: “FGM is a social norm which means that people practice it because they believe that others in their community do it, and these people believe they ought to conform to it. Most of the reasons sustaining the practice are based on myths and preconceptions, which, in turn, have shaped the social expectations among the people.

    “FGM poses increased risk of infection or prolonged bleeding, prolonged labour, still-birth and maternal death during childbirth. It also leaves lasting physical and emotional scars and an irreparable physical damage.”

    Meanwhile, she decried the high prevalence of FGM in Osun, saying the state has the highest rate of FGM in the Southwest and in Nigeria. Olutayo, who revealed that FGM prevalence among girls and women in the Osun State was about 68.7 per cent, maintained that this was higher than the national prevalence of 18.4 per cent.

    She revealed it gladdens UNICEF to realise that more than 137 communities have publicly agreed to end FGM practice.

    She said: “Today’s event rewrites history and marks a new chapter for the next generation of girls and women in these communities, as they publicly declare total abandonment of FGM practice and create a new norm of keeping their girls intact; the way that they were created.

    “We hope that today’s public declaration will inspire other communities at various stages of education and dialogues to accelerate their progress towards declaring the abandonment of FGM practice. UNICEF will continue to support you to sustain this momentum by embarking on post-declaration surveillance to monitor compliance.”

    Olutayo said UNICEF would inaugurate community surveillance team, a protection network and also train community champions to ensure total compliance.

    She said: “This public declaration in Osun State is a great feat because it is a community-led declaration. Some of the communities led by their traditional rulers have made a traditional declaration in their domains by coming out publicly to make a statement and declare to end FGM in their domains.

    “Today’s event rewrites history and marks a new chapter for the next generation of girls and women in these communities, as they publicly declare the total abandonment of FGM, and create a new norm of keeping their girls intact; the way that they were created. The large turnout of traditional, religious and political leaders presented a great opportunity to galvanise support to help these communities sustain their declaration to abandon FGM.

    “UNICEF urges all stakeholders to support the campaign in order to end FGM in their communities. We owe it to the millions of women who undergo this life-threatening experience to live up to our responsibilities to be voices for positive change to end FGM.

    “We hope that today’s public declaration will inspire other communities at various stages of education and dialogues to accelerate their progress towards declaring the abandonment of FGM.

    “Meanwhile, UNICEF will continue to support you to sustain this momentum by embarking on post-declaration surveillance to monitor compliance and ensure that any community member that deviates from the declaration will be fished out through a community mechanism and brought to justice.

    “Be assured that UNICEF will stand by your communities as you enter this next phase in the cycle of abandoning a social norm such as FGM. Under Phase III of the UNFPA/UNICEF joint Programme on Eliminating FGM, which began in January this year to end in December, 2021, UNICEF will continue to use information- and dialogue-based processes to empower communities and build collective actions that lead to FGM elimination.”

    For the Osun Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Yomi Olasinde, the public declaration to end FGM practice was a good step towards eradicating the age long practice, saying, “I believe with this public declaration. Nobody in these communities will ever venture into such act as they know its legal, social and medical implications.”

    Also speaking, founder of the Ladies Circle International (LCI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that promotes and equip the girl child, Miss Ayo Bello, called on the Federal Government to implement the Girl Child Rights policy. She said government at various levels should work on equipping the girl child with quality education.

    Bello said: “Ladies Circle International is a global organisation which focuses on women and youth empowerment. It helps the girl child understand her worth and also help her in maximising her potential.”

    Recall that the wife of the outgoing Osun State Governor and President of Sheri Care Foundation, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, through her pet project on FGM, had consistently advocated against the harmful practice. In 2016, she made 16 communities, including Eko Ende, Eko Ajala, Iba, Asa, Iwo Oke, Ajagunlase, Alapata, Owode, Araromi in Ifelodun, Ola-Oluwa and Ede North local government areas declared their intentions to stop female circumcision in their areas.

    Mrs. Aregbesola said she was glad that her foundation had the co-operation of traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and promoters of arts and culture.

    She further said: “The move to stop FGM is intended to let people know that it is no longer necessary as a cultural requirement. Awareness should also be created to the effect that the practice is harmful and cruel physically and psychologically.

    “We must also note that the victims are our daughters, sisters, aunties, cousins, nieces, wives and mothers. I do not see any other category closer and dearer to us than these and therefore do not deserve to be subjected to this hurtful practice any longer.”

    Mrs. Aregbesola, who reaffirmed her commitment to achieving zero-tolerance on Female Genital Mutilation/Circumcision, said her foundation has engaged in many activities to increase the awareness to end the harmful effects of FGM and circumcision in every nook and cranny of the state.

    The UNFPA Gender/FGM Analyst, Mrs Uzoma Ayodeji and the AHI programme officer, Miss Fatimah Idris urged community leaders to keep monitoring and ensure compliant to the commitment.

  • African youth call to end Female Genital Mutilation

    African Youth has called for the end of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) through a one million conversations.

    The campaign which is being supported by The Girl Generation, an Africa-led global collective of partners, kick started on Monday by bringing young people from all over the world to speak out and pledge to make theirs the generation that ends FGM.

    As part of this, the young activists are calling on their peers and parents as well as leaders from their communities, religion and politics to join them in talking about the issue whether these are people speaking out against it or survivors sharing their experiences.

    Aware that issues that aren’t spoken about prevail the longest, they hope to spark a million conversations on FGM by posting videos on social media using the hashtags #Ihavespoken and #EndFGM to create awareness and also, inspire others to show support thus breaking the silence that surrounds the issue.

    However, The Girl Generation will support the African youth achieve their aim by sparking conversations about FGM and breaking the silence which surrounds the issue, growing support for, and putting the spotlight on, the Africa-led movement to end FGM, Unlocking further resource and policy commitments to end FGM.

    The Global Director of The Girl Generation, Dr Faith Mwangi-Powell, said:
    “We’re so excited to watch this movement grow from the minds of young activists in Africa to a million voices all around the world.

    “These young people are taking action by shattering the silence that surrounds FGM. By inviting and inspiring others to join the movement, they take a giant leap forward towards creating a world that is safer for our girls”.

    Oumie Sissokho, End-FGM Youth activist from The Gambia said:

    “I am a survivor of female genital mutilation and am a living testimony of the harm it causes.
    “However, I am using my story in a positive a way. I have made a pledge to my daughter that I will protect her with my heart and my soul and I will extend the same protection to all the girls in my family and community.

    “That’s why I am working endlessly, tirelessly, to ensure that the right people are speaking out against FGM, changing mindsets and attitudes so that we will be able to end it in a generation.”

    Moussa Drame, Seneglese activist and journalist said:

    “I am proud to play my part in the global movement to end FGM. By speaking out, we have a huge opportunity to break the taboos that surround FGM and help others better understand the issue.

    “By talking about FGM, we will ensure that future generations do not carry out the practice.

    “As the largest African generation ever, we carry great weight behind us, and so ours will be the one that ends FGM forever.“

  • FGM free generation: Students to discuss way forward

    FGM free generation: Students to discuss way forward

    Despite Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) being recognized as a human right violation, yet it remains a hideous practice happening in our society. Nigeria has the highest absolute number of cases of FGM in the world, accounting for about one-quarter of the estimated 115–130 million circumcised women worldwide.


    Furthermore, the estimated prevalence of FGM among women aged 15 to 19 years is 24.8% and this figure has not changed significantly in recent years with about 20 million women and girls who have undergone FGM.

    To this end, young people from public secondary schools across Lagos State will raise discourse on the issue of FGM, its prevalence in Nigeria, impacts/effects on the Girl Child, community and national development. They will be using artistic performances such as song, poetry and drama to advocate for the elimination of this practice in the country on November 11th, 2017 at the 24th Annual Teenage Festival of Life (TFL).

    This discourse becomes imperative considering that in spite of the severe short-term and long-term physical and psychological consequences of mutilation, FGM is often practised in the belief that it is beneficial for the girl-child. Some communities consider that it ensures and preserves virginity and marital faithfulness and prevents promiscuity/prostitution.

    Also, in every community in which FGM is practised, it is usually a demonstration of gender inequality that is deeply entrenched in social, economic and political structures. FGM is often motivated by beliefs about what is considered appropriate sexual behaviour.

    This event will have in attendance as the special guest government officials from Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, UNFPA, the Tutor General/Permanent secretaries of all the Education districts in Lagos state, teachers and students of secondary schools in Lagos

    TFL 2017 will also serve as a platform for young people to be adequately informed about issues of Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria, with a view to enlisting them as critical stakeholders in efforts to attain FGM Free Generation.

  • FGM will reduce in Osun, says govt

    FGM will reduce in Osun, says govt

    The Osun State government has said its high Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) rating will drop next year.
    Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Akinyinka Esho said this at the grand finale of the End FGM Poster Art Competition organised by Value Reorientation for Community Enhancement in Osogbo.
    Esho hailed the Rauf Aregbesola administration’s provision of necessary logistics in creating awareness, sensitisation, monitoring and the progress made in making erstwhile circumcision specialists renounce their source of livelihood.
    State Coordinator of the International Awareness Campaign, Mrs. Aduke Obelawo, explained that UNICEF and other agencies will not rest until the practice is at its lowest ebb.

  • ‘Most VVF patients are victims of FGM’

    At least 85 per cent of Vesico Vaginal Fistula patients in the country are victims of Female Genital Mutilation and cutting FGM/C, according to a recent research.

    Medical Director of the National Obstetrics Fistula Centre of Excellence Abakaliki (NOFIC), Prof Sunday Adeoye stated this at a two-day training of Community Champions on FGM Abandonment in Ebonyi State.

    The event was organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in conjunction with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

    Describing the practice as unacceptable, Prof Adeoye canvassed a bottom-top approach to curtail the practice.

    He said, “Among over 412 patients we studied, over 85 per cent of them have suffered some form of mutillation or another which is not acceptable.”

    While noting that FGM/C is a contributory factor to VVF in the county, Prof Adeoye commended the efforts of the wife of the Ebonyi State governor, Mrs Rachel Umahi to stamp out the practice.

    He noted that there is need for the people at the grassroots to join the fight against the practice in order for it to be successful.

    Unicef Chief of Enugu Field Office, Charles Nzuki in a goodwill message regretted that many women lose their lives during childbirth because of FGM.

    He said, ”We must abandon FGM because it is one of the major reasons women die during childbirth and suffer from Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) painful menstruation, painful sexual intercourse, exposed to life threatening infections such as HIV and Tetanus amongst other negative consequences”.

    “Ending FGN is life-saving. There is need to prevent millions of girls and women from undergoing painful, harmful an irreversible damage to their genitalia. Let us encourage parents and caregivers to leave genital organs of girls and women as naturally created”.

    The state Director of NOA, Dr. Emma Abba said Ebonyi state has the highest prevalence rate of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) in the south east region of the country.

    He said 15 million girls between 15 and 19 years are at risk of being subjected to the inhuman treatment by 2030 if nothing is done to stop the practice.

    He listed local government areas in the state where the practice is common to include Izzi, Afikpo, Abakaliki, Ezza North and Ebonyi local government

    He noted that the agency will soon approach the state House of Assembly to pass a bill prohibiting female genital mutilation.

    He said, “In the southeastern region, Ebonyi State has the highest prevalence rate above the regional average at 62%”.

    “About 120 million to 40 million women have been subjected to FGM and 3 million girls are at risk each year, according to World health organisation (WHO).”

    “FGM relates to all procedures that involve partial or total removal pof external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons”.

    “This practice is an abuse of human rights and causes serious health complications, including fatal bleeding”.

    General Manager of Radio Nigeria-Unity FM Abakaliki, Gregory Odiakosa said it is still surprising that it is still being practised despite all the campaig.

    He expressed shock that Ebonyi is number two in ranking of prevalence rate in the country.

    Describing the training as a very nice move he said the expectation is that participants will go back and work assiduously to end the practice.

    Mr Odiakosa who described FGM as a wicked and evil practice blamed tradition for its continued practice.

    He noted that the practice has very negative consequences for the women and the girl-child, urging stakeholders to ensure that the practice stopped in the state.

     

  • Osun first lady champions campaign against FGM

    Osun first lady champions campaign against FGM

    The Osun State first lady and founder, Sheri Care Foundation (SCARF), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, has promised to champion campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

    At a press conference in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, Mrs Argbesola, who described FGM as a savage culture, maintained that the practice must be stopped at all costs. She said she would lead to eradicate FMG otherwise known as female circumcision.

    Giving a detailed statistics of the prevalence of the menace, she disclosed that the South West Zone topped the national prevalence data.She further disclosed that Osun State ranked highest with 77 percent prevalence rate among other states across the federation that engage in the practice.

    She identified Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Oyo and Lagos among states with increased prevalence rate.According to her, she had mobilised a team of professionals from Sheri Care Foundation (SCARF) to begin advocacy to eradicate it in Osun State.

    She further disclosed that the team would be mandated to take the campaign to not only the urban but also the rural areas to enlighten circumcisers and stakeholders on the dehumanising health implications of the practice.

    Mrs. Aregbesola lamented that the practice was embraced many years ago as a culture and tradition by the people, noting that many life-long health risks are associated with the practice.

    She listed infertility, painful menstruation, increased risk of bleeding and infection during child birth and many others among the health risks.

    Mrs. Aregbesola said: “The practice is a clear violation of the rights of our women and girls in this state and to life and physical integrity. It is sad to say that the victims suffer trauma when the practice is carried out on them.”