Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji has called on religious organizations and marriage registrars to counsel intending couples against carrying out Female Genital Mutilation on their female children.
The Governor’s wife gave the advise in Ado Ekiti at the commemoration of year 2024 International Day of Zero Tolerance For Female Genital Mutilation in Ekiti State.
Dr Oyebanji noted that the warning became necessary because those being mutilated in the name of circumcision were prone to being infected with various diseases through contamination or may be exposed to physical and psychological trauma and other health complications
“If you check UNICEF data, Ekiti is one of the top four states where Female Genital Mutilation is rife. If such cases are brought to you and you reject it, they will not have a choice than to go back home” ,she said.
The Governor’s wife who passionately appealed to parents not to abuse the rights of the girl-child through FGM, expressed hope that after this year’s celebration, the number of those engaging in the unwholesome practice would have drastically reduced.
She urged all stakeholders including, Marriage Registrars, Religious organizations, Traditional birth attendants and health personnel to give due attention to stoppage of Female Genital Mutilation.
“I reiterate that the fight against Female Genital Mutilation requires the cooperation of all ,so that the collective efforts to create a world free of the scourge could be achieved” Dr Oyebanji added.
Earlier in her remark, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Peju Babafemi said the theme of this year’s celebration “Her Voice Her Future: Investing in Survivor’s-Led Movement to End Female Genital Mutilation” and one-day training organised for stakeholders would create a forum to strengthen the bond of fighting the harmful practice.
In their goodwill messages, the Chairperson, Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs who doubles as Deputy speaker, Mrs Bolaji Olagbaju and the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani sought the collaboration of all stakeholders to end the menace