Report by ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
Parents have been urged to shun the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to save the girl child from diseases and untimely death.
The founder of a Non -Governmental organisation, Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC), Dr Christy Abayomi – Oluwole made the call while speaking at a sensitization programme organised in collaboration with Kwara state Ministry of social Development, with theme “Advocacy and Sensitization On Zero Tolerance for Female Genital mutilation” in Ilorin South, Kwara state.
She said the initiative is aimed at sensitising the larger community on the danger of human genital mutilation.
Dr. Abayomi pointed out that there is the need to educate the people on the existence of the child right act that prohibits female genital mutilation to make it effective.
According to her, Kwara state ranked among the highest state with the prevalence of female genital mutilation.
She said men who are the heads of the family have a bigger role to play in ensuring the eradication of the harmful practice.
In his address, the Director Social Welfare, Kwara State Ministry of Social Development, Mr James Kayode said the state is collaborating with UNICEF and other stakeholders to eradicate female genital mutilation in the state.
He said the state government has gone round to sensitise the operators on the need to shun the harmful cultural practice of female genital mutilation.
Earlier in his remarks, former Director National Orientation Agency (NOA) Kwara state Directorate, Mr Olusegun Adeyemi said it has been established that there is no religion that support the idea of human genital mutilation.
Mr Adeyemi advised community leaders to rise to the occasion and educate the people on the need to put an end to the harmful cultural practice, adding that the practice has devastating effects on the girl child.
