FGM: We Are Achieving Positive Results With Support Of NGOs – Osun Govt

The Osun State Government said its efforts at stopping  Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) were yielding a positive result, appreciating the United Nations Population Fund for supporting the government in the fight against FGM.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Alhaji Jimoh Adekilekun made this known during a three days capacity building training for 40 in-school, out-of-school and physically challenged adolescent girls on using technological skills to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Osun State.

Osun Defender gathered that the training which commenced on Wednesday, September 20 and ended on Friday, September 22 was sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with Women Against Violence and Expectation Foundation (WAVE).

Adekilekun who was represented by Mrs Oyebola Adeoye while astonishing the participants, said the state government will leave no stone unturned in its fight against gender violence.

He said, “You must be a champion to speak against FGM menace in our society. Osun State is highly rated for Female Genital Mutilation but thank God, it is reducing drastically. We need to say thank you to our NGOs.

“We are not left behind in the fight against gender violence in Osun state and I want to assure you that the state government will ensure the safety of our girls.

“I want to urge you that when you get back to schools, communities, churches and mosques, speak against girl violence and learn to speak out. Form groups and tell them about all the things you’ve benefited from this training. Be an ambassador of Anti-FGM”.

Speaking with newsmen,  Mrs Uzoma Ayodeji, Gender/FGM Analyst, UNFPA said the girls were empowered on how to use digital skills to speak against FGM.

She noted that the participants are expected to step down the training to their peers, noting that FGM is a harmful practice that must be stopped.

According to her, “The capacity of selected girls was built on digital skills, social media content creation and technology-facilitated GBV.

“We trained them on what FGM is all about and empowered them on how to use their voice in the right way. FGM is a harmful practice that must be stopped.

“They were trained to sensitize the people to the harmful effects of

FGM. We hope they will go back to their schools and also teach and sensitize other girls in their various schools.

“For those who are out of school, they will go back to their community and also share their experiences with other girls”.

The Director of Administration, Women Against Violence and Expectation Foundation (WAVE), Oludotun Odumosu, during his goodwill message, said “Some survivors of FGM do not speak up due to stigmatisation in tye society, calling on victims to seek help.”

The girls during the training were put in groups to develop content for a social media advert.

They were also given tests before and after the conclusion of the training with Oluwabukola Adenike,  Babatunde Debora and Olajide Esther emerging first, second and third best participants.

The three girls were given mini laptops for their performances.

In her words, the first position taker, Soyebo Oluwabukola, said “I’ve learnt a lot about Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) and Content creation.  This training has been really good and I’m ready to step it down to my peers at home.”

First runner-up, Deborah Babatunde while commending the organisers, said she learnt more about FGM during the training.

“I’m going to commend UNFPA and Wave Foundation for their great effort of accommodating we girls and trying to teach us the danger of FGM. I knew about FGM before but not this detailed.

“I’m going to share the awareness, advocate, campaign and tell people about how FGM is prevailing and doing a lot of evil to people in Nigeria.”

• Kazeem Badmus