Parents have been urged to abandon the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to protect girls from life-threatening health complications and uphold their rights.
The call came from Dr. Christy Abayomi-Oluwole, founder of the Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC), during a community sensitisation programme in Ilorin South, Kwara State. The event, organised in collaboration with the Kwara State Ministry of Social Development, carried the theme: “Advocacy and Sensitisation on Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.”
Dr. Abayomi-Oluwole stressed the urgency of public education on the dangers of FGM and the enforcement of the Child Rights Act, which prohibits the practice. She noted that Kwara ranks among states with the highest prevalence of FGM, adding that male heads of households play a critical role in halting the practice.
Speaking at the event, Mr. James Kayode, Director of Social Welfare in the ministry, revealed ongoing partnerships with UNICEF and other stakeholders aimed at eradicating FGM across the state. He said sensitisation efforts are targeting traditional practitioners and community members.
Also speaking, former Director of the National Orientation Agency in Kwara, Mr. Olusegun Adeyemi, highlighted that no religion supports FGM. He called on community leaders to intensify awareness campaigns, warning that the practice continues to inflict severe physical and psychological harm on girls.
The event forms part of ongoing grassroots efforts to end FGM in Nigeria, where the practice remains a significant concern despite national and international campaigns for its abolition.