The wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, has vowed to launch a more aggressive campaign against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) until the battle against the scourge is won.
Dr Oyebanji who unfolded her resolve at a one-day training for service providers on FGM Inclusion in Ado Ekiti on Thursday said it was disturbing that Ekiti State is in second position in the prevalence rate of FGM in Nigeria.
The training which was held as part of activities marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM was attended by traditional birth attendants, registrars at marriage registries, faith-based organizations and civil society organizations.
The Ekiti State First Lady stressed that FGM is punishable under the law in the state and also described the menace as a violation of the rights of the girl child which would not be tolerated in the Land of Honour.
She urged the practitioners of FGM to drop their blades and save the future of the girl child, noting that the practice does greater harm to the reproductive health and general well-being of the victims.
She said: “Our girls should not be cut, they should not be circumcised. The reason why we are organizing this workshop is to see a drastic reduction in the increase of FGM. We will continue to mount rigorous campaigns until we achieve a minimum reduction in FGM cases in Ekiti State.”
The Governor’s wife charged the participants to take the message to the grassroots and sensitize others, noting that marriage registrars in local councils were incorporated into the training to counsel intending and newly married couples not to circumcise their female children.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani, said Ekiti has one of the highest levels of literacy hence practices like FGM should become a thing of the past.
He added: “There is no reason why we should still be involved in FGM. Let all of us commit ourselves to the total eradication of FGM in our dear state.”
The Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Bolaji Olagbaju said victims of FGM are liable to infections adding that the practice has become unacceptable because of its negative effects.
Ekiti has highest literacy levels, no reason FGM should thrive – First lady, Dr Oyebanji