Follow Us on Google
By Doris Obinna
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and advocates have reiterated that despite being outlawed, female genital mutilation (FGM) continues to be practised across Nigeria, often justified under the guise of tradition or religion. These experts warned that unless urgent action is taken, the country could see a sharp rise in the number of girls affected.
Speaking, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF, Dennis Onoise, cautioned that Nigeria risks a 50 per cent increase in FGM cases if interventions are not rapidly scaled up. He dismissed cultural defences of the practice, emphasising that FGM has no medical or moral benefit. “It does not prevent promiscuity, as many believe. Instead, it causes life-threatening complications such as severe bleeding, infections, urinary incontinence and long-term reproductive health problems.”
Celine Lafoucriere, UNICEF Chief, Lagos Field Office, described FGM as a grave violation of human rights, not a cultural rite. “Nearly 20 million women and girls in Nigeria have been cut. This is a huge number we cannot be blind or deaf to. Despite being outlawed, FGM persists because of myths and traditions. No culture should compromise girls’ health or future. The good news is; change is happening through collaborations with the government, survivors, and communities.”
That change, she noted, is evident in the growing number of parents questioning the practice, in the courage of survivors who have turned their pain into advocacy, and in the voices of religious leaders challenging harmful beliefs with compassion and conviction.
Other News
Also, FGM consultant Mrs. Aderonke Olutayo decried the lack of male involvement in advocacy efforts, noting that men often play decisive roles in family decisions. “Without the support of men, advocacy will remain incomplete. We need to dismantle myths, not just among women but also among men who perpetuate this tradition,” she said.
UNICEF Communication Officer, Blessing Ejiofor, urged the media to take a leading role in ending FGM. “No woman should undergo FGM; it is now a criminal offence in Nigeria. The media must drive the advocacy so that no girl suffers again,” she said. Her appeal extended beyond journalists to every platform that influences public opinion.
On his part, Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Information, Mr. Rotimi Babalola, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to eliminating the practice. “We have done similar advocacy programmes with security agencies and the judiciary. It’s now the turn of the media. We must redouble our efforts to totally eliminate FGM.”
Although statistics remain alarming, momentum is gradually shifting. Survivors are speaking out, communities are beginning to question long-held traditions, and awareness campaigns are changing perceptions replacing silence with dialogue and stigma with protection.
“Every girl in Nigeria deserves to grow up free of mutilation, free of fear, and free to thrive. The scars of FGM may be permanent, but so too is the resolve of those fighting to end it. With each story told, each myth dispelled, and each girl protected, Nigeria moves one step closer to a future where no child is cut in the name of culture,” Lafoucriere affirmed.
