By Adeyinka Adeniran
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday said no fewer than 20 million females in Nigeria have been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The organization emphasizes the urgent need to end the practice, which it said, poses serious risks to the lives of girls and women.
Speaking during a media dialogue event, the Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere stressed the importance of abandoning FGM, noting that despite being outlawed in Nigeria, the practice persists in many states due to myths and traditions.
UNICEF reports that Nigeria ranks third globally in FGM prevalence, highlighting the lack of health benefits and potential dangers associated with the practice, adding that efforts to mobilize communities and stakeholders are crucial in reducing FGM incidence.
Lafoucriere said: “Your presence here shows that ending FGM is urgent and achievable. Nearly 20 million women and girls in Nigeria have undergone FGM.
“It’s the third highest globally. Most of them were cut before their fifth birthday, when they are completely powerless, when they can’t consent, reject or understand what is happening. Despite being outlawed in Nigeria, the practice continues in many states. It continues by myth and tradition.”
It called on stakeholders to support the total abandonment of the harmful tradition, saying, cutting a girl child denies her autonomy and subjects her to violence, hence the need to eliminate FGM entirely.
Also speaking, the Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Lagos Office, Dennis Onoise, disclosed that Nigeria is the third biggest country in the world that practices FGM.
“FGM has no health benefit. It will not stop promiscuity. It would deny a lady the full benefit of her body. It can lead to medical complications. If the cutting is not properly done, it would affect urine, which is dangerous. It is a gender-based violence. Many communities are into it. If we continue to mobilise people, there would be more reduction”, she said.
He, therefore, sought the support of all stakeholders to stop the practice, saying, “we are asking for the total abandonment of this practice,’’ he said.
In her remarks, FGM consultant, Mrs Aderonke Olutayo, maintained that by cutting the girl child, “you have rendered the woman powerful and violent. It is a harmful traditional practice.”
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Oyo State, Mr Rotimi Babalola, urged the media to intensify their support in reporting issues aimed at putting an end to the harmful practice.
Babalola said: “Today, it’s about the critical stakeholders here, the media. Because we are the people who set the agenda for society to follow. So we are very critical of this FGM elimination campaign. I will just appeal that we need to put extra effort into this campaign, so that in all the seven states in the UNICEF office, we totally eliminate FGM.”
