By Jadesola Ajibola
Stakeholders working against Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) in Oyo state have called for sustained commitment, stronger legislation, and increased investment to eliminate the pracrice, warning that progress recorded over the years could be reversed without deliberate action.
The call was made on Friday in Ibadan during a media briefing to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, organised by the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health (CCPRH) in collaboration with the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, with funding support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
It brought together government officials, development partners, civil society colleagues, and members of the press
The event themed: “Towards 2030: No end to FGM without sustained commitment and investment”, held at the Boardroom, Mediation Centre, Ministry of Justice, Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Delivering the keynote address, the Chairman of the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development, Dr. Olufunke Comforter Olajide, described the protection of the girl child as a collective responsibility.
Olajide in condemning FGM, described it as a harmful practice with severe health and psychological consequences.
She said, “The welfare, growth, and development of our society rest heavily on the wellbeing of every girl child. We must nurture, protect, and preserve their future
“FGM poses immediate and long-term complications that create psychosocial, emotional, and unhealthy imbalances. We must strive for a community where every girl can thrive without fear of being cut.”
The lawmaker identified legislative oversight, budgetary commitment, and policy continuity as critical pillars in ending the practice.
“We must strengthen laws such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law and ensure enforcement. Relevant ministries and agencies must create budget lines for anti-FGM programmes, while policies must be sustained across administrations if we are to meet the 2030 target,” she added.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economic Planning, Hon. Olasunkanmi Babalola, said the state already has laws but needs effective implementation.
“The problem is not the absence of laws but their effectiveness. We are introducing post-legislative scrutiny to review how laws perform after execution and make necessary improvements,” he said.
Earlier In his welcome remarks, the Executive Director, CCPRH, Emeritus Professor Oladosu Ojengbede said the global theme for 2026 highlights the need for consistent financing and political will.
Prof. Ojengbede highlighted the progress made in reducing FGM prevalence in Nigeria, particularly in Oyo State, where the prevalence has declined from 65 percent to 18 percent.
However, he emphasized that despite this progress, nearly one in five girls and women in Oyo State still experiences FGM, and many more remain at risk. He attributed the decline in prevalence to advocacy, legislation, community engagement, and survivor leadership.
He called on the Oyo state government to institutionalize funding for anti-FGM work through dedicated budget lines and for oversight bodies to ensure that policies and laws translate into action at the community level.
He also urged the media to continue playing a critical role in shaping public discourse and accountability, while communities and traditional leaders are encouraged to remain at the forefront of norm change.
Professor Ojengbede said, “The Central message of 2026: commitment must be sustained, and financed. This year’s theme reminds us that commitment without investment is not enough.
“Sustained investment means: predictable financing for prevention, protection, and response; capacity building for health workers, justice actors, and social service providers; community-led approaches that shift norms over time; strong data systems to track progress and guide decisions; enforcement of laws, alongside survivor-centred support. Crucially, it also means domestic resource mobilisation, not reliance on short-term donor projects.”
He added, “Oyo state has demonstrated leadership in reducing FGM prevalence. The task before us now is to protect these gains and accelerate progress towards zero.
“We therefore call on: the Executive and Legislature to institutionalise funding for anti-FGM work through dedicated budget lines across relevant ministries and agencies; Oversight bodies to ensure that policies and laws translate into action at community level.
“The media to continue playing its critical role in shaping public discourse and accountability
Communities and traditional leaders to remain at the forefront of norm change.
“History will judge us not by our declarations, but by whether today’s girls grow up free from harm.
“As we look towards 2030, let us remember this:
“There will be no end to FGM without sustained commitment and sustained investment.
“Let Oyo state continue to lead, not only in reducing prevalence, but in showing what is possible when political will, community action, and smart investment come together.”
The Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Olatunji Muideen Babatunde, called for collective responsibility and increased investment in prevention efforts.
“This is a call to duty for everyone. We must invest more and ensure all stakeholders wake up to their responsibilities in protecting girls from this harmful practice,” he stated.
Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, stressed accountability across all levels of healthcare delivery, saying, “stakeholders must be accountable. From primary healthcare centres to secondary facilities, everyone must be involved in the fight against FGM.”
Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, NUJ, Oyo State Council, Mr. Yinka Adeniran, reaffirmed the media’s role in advocacy and public enlightenment against harmful traditional practices.
He said, “The media will continue to play a frontline role in advocacy, public sensitisation, and holding institutions accountable in the collective effort to end FGM and other harmful practices.”
Representing the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Olajumoke Rofiat-Yusuf highlighted legal challenges faced by survivors seeking justice.
“Though the VAPP Law has been domesticated in Oyo State, victims still face challenges. We must encourage people to speak up and support stakeholders in upholding justice,” she said
