FGM Not Antidote To Promiscuity – Stakeholders
Stakeholders have described the belief by some parents that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) will prevent their children from being promiscuous as a fallacy.
According to the stakeholders, many people believe that their children will be wayward without circumcision, adding that the practice is a violation of human rights which every individual must endeavour to end.
The stakeholders spoke on Wednesday during an awareness campaign on Female Genital Mutilation at the College of Nursing Sciences, Asubiaro, Osogbo.
The programme was organised by Action Health Incorporated and College of Nursing Sciences with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and collaboration by the state government to commemorate the 2025 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The Theme of this year’s programme was; ‘Stepping up the pace: strengthening alliances movement to end FGM.
The stakeholders, which included traditional rulers, also emphasised the need for a continuous education on FGM and importance of using local language to explain to people on the danger of the menace.
They also admonished nurses to always guide and advise parents at the point of childbirth on the danger of female circumcision.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady of the state, Mrs Titilola Adeleke, noted that FGM is a harmful practice that damages the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons.
Mrs Adeleke emphasised the need for laws, community-driven advocacy and involvement of traditional and religious leaders in the elimination of the harmful practice.
In her remarks, Mrs Uzoma Ayodeji, FGM Analyst, United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), appreciated the First Lady for the alliance, increased education and awareness, especially in schools and communities, to stop the age-long cultural practices.
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Mrs Ayodeji emphasised the urgency of preventing female children from undergoing genital mutilation, as evidenced by numerous cases of women’s death during childbirth due to FGM.
She said, “I want to appreciate our first lady for her unwavering dedication and support to fight FGM practice in Osun State. As we all know, FGM is a harmful practice and we are working collectively to make sure it goes into extinction not only in Osun State but Nigeria as a whole”.
On her part, the Programme Officer, Action Health Incorporated, Fatimah Idris, said the programme was to sensitise healthcare students on harms associated with Female Genital Mutilation.
Idris urged participants at the event to use what they learnt to educate others in their environment and community at large.
“We’ve been able to speak to the participants on the danger of FGM, and I believe that they’ve learnt new things. I want to urge the participants to spread the gospel of what they learnt here today wherever they find themselves. Together, we must end FGM practice”, she said.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
