•Imo sets 2018 deadline

By Gabriel Dike and  George Onyejiuwa, Owerri

As the world marks International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), yesterday, called on governments at all levels, civil society organizations, and traditional as well religious leaders to end female genital mutilation and cutting in Nigeria. 

Celebrating the day, yesterday, UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, stressed that “every study and every bit of evidence we have shows there is absolutely no benefit to mutilate or to cut any girl or woman for non-medical reasons. It is a practice that can cause severe physical and psychological harm.”

According to statistics, five states in Nigeria have high rates of female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) that are more than 60 per cent, with Osun and Ebonyi highest at 77 and 74 per cent respectively, according to the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey.

Other states are Ekiti, 72 per cent; Imo, 68 per cent and Oyo, 66 per cent.

Fall added that FGM/C comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other cutting of or injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

In February 2016, wife of the president Aisha Buhari launched a national campaign to end FGM/C, and called on all parties to work together to halt this harmful practice. Fall disclosed that UNICEF is working with federal and state governments, especially in the southern states where the practice is most prevalent, training partners, creating awareness at all levels and working with communities to convince practitioners and community members to promote an end to the practice.

Meanwhile, Imo State Government has set 2018 deadline to end FGM/C in all parts of the state.

Commissioner for Health, Women Affairs and Social Development. Ngozi Njoku stated the resolve, yesterday, in Owerri,   while declaring open a Media Dialogue to mark the 2017 International Day of Zero tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation by UNFPA/UNICEF  programme on FGM/C organized by the National Orientation Agency NOA.

She disclosed that the state government would not to wait till 2030 to end the practices in the state for the safety of the girl child. Describing the practice as an act that primarily renders the girl-child useless, she urged stakeholders to rise up against the obnoxious practice.

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Support is growing for the national campaign to end FGM/C. With the support of the wives of the state governors, Imo and Oyo State Houses of Assembly are currently working on draft bills that will prohibit the practice of FGM/C and any custom or tradition promoting it. When the bills are passed, Imo and Oyo will join the other most affected southern states – Osun, Ebonyi and Ekiti – that already have laws against the practice in place.

“We applaud the progress that has been made in Nigeria, but there is still a long way to go. Even though this practice has persisted for over a thousand years, our evidence tells us that with collective action, it can end in one generation,’ added Mohamed Fall.  “It violates a woman’s rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and even – in some cases – the right to life,” he said.

Meanwhile, Imo State Government has set 2018 deadline to end FGM/C in all parts of the state.

Commissioner for Health, Women Affairs and Social Development. Ngozi Njoku stated the resolve, yesterday, in Owerri,   while declaring open a Media Dialogue to mark the 2017 International Day of Zero tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation by UNFPA/UNICEF  programme on FGM/C organized by the National Orientation Agency NOA.

She disclosed that the state government would not to wait till 2030 to end the practices in the state for the safety of the girl child.

Describing the practices as an act that primarily renders a female girl child useless, she urged the stakeholders to rise up against the obnoxious practices.

The commissioner who commended  the wife of Imo State Governor Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha for lunching similar programme against FGM/C, assured that with the support of both religious, community and  political leaders that the practice would be rooted in every community of the state before the end of next year.

Also,speaking at the event, the state Director of National Orientation Agency Mr.Vitus Ekeocha regretted the high practice of FGM/C  in Nigeria including Imo State.

He observed that already UNICEF in partnership with both Imo state government and Local Government Areas have visited some LGAs such as Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema/ Owerri West among others to educate the people on the dangers of the ancient practice of female circumcision which have often resulted in difficulties during child birth .

He therefore called on stringent measures to be taken against such practices which which the end result has contributed more to maternal mortality in the state .