Stakeholders Warn Against Complacency in Fight to End Female Genital Mutilation

Parties working to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C) in Oyo State have called for sustained political commitment, stronger enforcement of existing laws, and increased investment, warning that progress recorded over the years could be reversed without deliberate action.

The call was made on Friday in Ibadan during a media briefing to mark the 2026 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. The event was organised by the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health (CCPRH) in collaboration with the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), with funding support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The briefing, themed “Towards 2030: No end to FGM without sustained commitment and investment,” brought together government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, and members of the media. It was held at the Boardroom of the Mediation Centre, Ministry of Justice, Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

Delivering the keynote address, Chairman of the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs and Community Development, Dr. Olufunke Comforter Olajide, described the protection of the girl child as a collective responsibility and condemned FGM as a harmful practice with severe health and psychological consequences.

“The welfare, growth, and development of our society rest heavily on the wellbeing of every girl child. We must nurture, protect, and preserve their future,” she said.
“FGM poses immediate and long-term complications that create psychosocial and emotional imbalances. We must strive for a community where every girl can thrive without fear of being cut.”

Olajide identified legislative oversight, budgetary commitment, and policy continuity as key pillars in ending the practice, stressing the need to strengthen and enforce laws such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law.

“We must ensure enforcement. Relevant ministries and agencies must create budget lines for anti-FGM programmes, while policies must be sustained across administrations if we are to meet the 2030 target,” she added.

Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economic Planning, Hon. Olasunkanmi Babalola, noted that while Oyo State has relevant laws, effective implementation remains the major challenge.

“The problem is not the absence of laws but their effectiveness. We are introducing post-legislative scrutiny to review how laws perform after execution and make necessary improvements,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, CCPRH Executive Director, Emeritus Professor Oladosu Ojengbede, said the 2026 global theme underscores the need for consistent financing and political will. He highlighted progress in reducing FGM prevalence in Nigeria, particularly in Oyo State, where prevalence has declined from 65 per cent to 18 per cent.

Despite the gains, Ojengbede warned that nearly one in five girls and women in the state still experience FGM, with many more at risk. He attributed the decline to sustained advocacy, legislation, community engagement, and survivor leadership.

He called on the state government to institutionalise funding for anti-FGM initiatives through dedicated budget lines and urged oversight bodies to ensure policies and laws translate into action at the community level. He also emphasised the critical role of the media, communities, and traditional leaders in sustaining behavioural change.

“The central message of 2026 is that commitment must be sustained and financed. Commitment without investment is not enough,” Ojengbede said, adding that sustained investment requires predictable funding, capacity building for service providers, community-led approaches, strong data systems, law enforcement, and survivor-centred support.

Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Olatunji Muideen Babatunde, described the fight against FGM as a collective duty and called for increased investment in prevention efforts.

“This is a call to duty for everyone. We must invest more and ensure all stakeholders wake up to their responsibilities in protecting girls from this harmful practice,” he said.

Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr. Akintunde Ayinde, stressed accountability across all levels of healthcare delivery, noting that primary and secondary health facilities must be actively involved in the fight against FGM.

Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Oyo State Council, Mr. Yinka Adeniran, reaffirmed the media’s commitment to advocacy and public enlightenment against harmful traditional practices.

“The media will continue to play a frontline role in advocacy, public sensitisation, and holding institutions accountable in the collective effort to end FGM,” he said.

Representing the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Olajumoke Rofiat-Yusuf highlighted the legal challenges faced by survivors seeking justice, despite the domestication of the VAPP Law in the state.

“Victims still face challenges. We must encourage people to speak up and support stakeholders in upholding justice,” she said.