The Kwara State Government has mobilised religious and community leaders in Fate, Ilorin South Local Government Area (LGA), to combat Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). In collaboration with the Global Hope for Women and Children (GLOHWOC), the state hosted a town hall meeting with Imams, artisans, and local leaders to discuss the harms and implications of FGM.

Mr Kayode James, Director of Social Welfare at the Ministry of Social Development, stated that the sensitisation initiative aimed to educate residents on the dangers of the practice, which persists in the state despite having no health or mental benefits.

He emphasized that Kwara's Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law 2020 will be fully enforced against any individual violating the ban following the awareness campaign.

GLOHWOC CEO, Madam Christy Abayomi-Oluwole, said its statistics still showed that one out of three girls in Kwara receive cuts.

"So we are standing up to ensure that Kwara has zero tolerance for FGM and other harmful traditional practices.

"It is imperative to clear the myths and beliefs about FGM as people just engage in it as a tradition and not knowing what it fully entails.

"Most of the people indulging in the practice mean no harm because it is the culture and tradition they met on ground.

"So, we have to make them see the health, mental and psychological consequences of the act which has been with us for more than 5000 years.

"This is why we are holding the town hall advocacy to carry everyone along and clear their age-long belief on the harmful traditional practices," she said.

Abayomi-Oluwole said FGM had caused more harm to victims, ranging from non sexual satisfactions, loss of blood, infections, pains during menstruation and childbirth.

Another GLOWHOC official, Mr Segun Adeyemi, said that men have a huge role to play in the campaign against FGM since they were the decision makers in the homes.

The District Head of Fate Communiy, Alhaji Abdulmumin Ayoku, commended the initiative to clear the myths regarding FGM and urged men to join the advocacy.

He said the communities that practice FGM were ignorant of the harmful effect because the people were rooted in culture and traditions.

Ayoku said that the advocacy to the community had now enlightened and educated the people of the harmful effects of FGM.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kwara ranks second with 58 per cent after Imo state, which has 62 per cent in FGM prevalence in Nigeria.

The United Nation's Children Fund (UNICEF) was also a facilitator of the advocacy programme.

(NAN)