The wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, has called on all relevant stakeholders to team up with government in forming a win synergy to eradicate the age old harmful practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Mrs Oyetola made the call while speaking at the International Day of Zero tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation with the theme “NO TIME FOR GLOBAL INACTION, UNITE, FUND, AND ACT TO END FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION” held at the banquet hall of the Government House, Oke-fia, Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
The Osun first lady, who is also the President of Ilerioluwa Development Initiative(I.O.D), stated that with the provision of an improved health care for women and girl, the harmful complications of female genital mutilation would go into total extinction in the society.
Mrs Oyetola also appreciated the commitments and resilience of women across the state, which according to her, have helped in bringing down the curve of the dangerous traditional practice.
The Osun first lady, who was excited with the various reports of female genital mutilation in the state, enjoined the residents not to relent in forming the required synergy of multi-sectoral approaches.
According to her, the COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately placed an additional heavy burden on the society thereby crippling the drive to eradicate the dangerous traditional practices of female genital mutilation.
Speaking further at the meeting, the wife of Osun governor who was frowned at the increasing rate of gender-based violence during the COVID-19 lockdown in Osun State, stated that the state recorded a spike in rape cases across the state.
She added that the unfortunate development prompted the forum of first ladies in Nigeria to put in place a well driven awareness and intervention programmes to curb the barbaric act.
Mrs Oyetola, therefore, pledged the need for more multi-sectoral intervention and advocacy including intervention programmes within the context of COVID- 19 to suppress the 2013 statistic of 76.6% of Nigeria Demographic and Health Statistics in Osun State.
Also speaking at the meeting, speakers from different sectors such as health, media, NGOs, the Legislative and executive arms of government led by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu, promised their unflinching support in eradicating the barbaric act in Osun State.
Among other strategic action plans, the stakeholders also called on media sensitization and awareness campaigns coupled with adequate incentives for whistle blowers alongside proper circulation of FGM laws to help achieve tangible results in Osun State and Nigeria at large.
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