Wife of the Osun state Governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola has described Females Genital Mutilation (FGM) as a killer-practice that have decimated many lives of girls and women.
She, therefore, vowed that his group, IleriOluwa Development Initiative would not rest until the deadly practice is stopped in the state.
Mrs Oyetola said more campaign would be done against FGM and open defecation until these barbaric acts are stopped in all nooks and crannies of Osun.
The First Lady stated this in Ologele in Orolu community of the state during an abandonment ceremony programme on FGM organised by National Orientation Agency in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund.
This was contained in a release issued by Tunmise Iluyomade, the Press Officer of Mrs Oyetola.
The wife of the Governor stressed that FGM is a very dangerous and deadly practice that has been in existence for a very long time added that data analysis from various studies shows that a lot of girl child and women have lost their lives in the aftermath of being subjected to it.
She said standard of living of the people of the state would be enhanced if FGM is abandoned.
She said the practice has no benefit for the women and neither does it give any benefits to the family of each victims or their respective society.
Mrs Oyetola added that “t is a practice hoisted on ignorance which all concerted efforts must be made to stop it.”
Mrs Oyetola explained that the stat had enacted a law banning the act.
She now commended the bold steps of various communities who have collaborated with the state during the tenure of last administration to abandon the practice of FGM. She described the programme as continuation of effort to put the act to an end.
Earlier in her address of welcome, the State Director, National Orientation Agency Mrs Yomi Olasinde said the National Orientation Agency (NOA )and United Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF) had put all machinery in place at ensuring that female Genital mutilation practice is totally eradicated in the State of Osun and Nigeria at large.
Mrs Olasinde therefore appreciated the efforts of UNICEF for Sponsoring the programme to reach out to people of the grassroot level that are mostly vulnerable.
Highlights of the programme was the signing of certificate on declaration of Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation in Ologele and Cultural display by the Ologele cultural Troupe and present of gift to the wife of the Governor Mrs Kafayat Oyetola by the National Orientation Agency State Director Mrs Yomi Olasinde.
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