Morolake Oluwatosin
In commemoration of this year,2022 day celebration of ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) globally celebrated ,annually every 6th of February, the International Federation of Female Lawyers, FIDA , Ekiti state chapter has carried out Sensitization to the general public on the needs to speed up efforts in putting an end to circumcision of women and girl child.
The Women Lawyers spread out advocacy to churches including Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Imole, in Ado-Ekiti , the state capital.
The theme of this year’s celebration is ” Accelerating Investment to end FGM” .
FIDA collaborated with the Medical Women Association of Nigeria ( MWAN) Ekiti State Chapter.
The MWAN Chairperson, Dr Mrs Olasunkanmi Alabi sensitized the Congregation on the danger and harmful effect of FGM.
She further intensified the needs for concerted efforts in putting an end to FGM in Nigeria, in order to stop the menace.
FIDA Ekiti, Vice-chairperson, Mrs Banke Olagbegi-Oloba, in her presentation informed the Congregation that recent Research established Ekiti State as being in the 2nd position out of the 6 states leading in FGM practice in the country.
” It also reveals that there is high prevalence of Mortality rate during Child birth amongst circumcised women due to the injuries and scars they have sustained through FGM.
” FGM has put Mothers and Prospective Mothers and child yet unborn in Harms way.” She stressed.
She sensitized further on the purpose and provisions of Section 7 of the Gender Based Violence(Prohibition) Law of Ekiti State 2019 (as amended)on the punishment and penalties for offenders and conspirators, also to enable persons to seek and secure justice for acts of violence meted out to them
She submitted further that FGM is an act that infringes on the Rights of a Female Child, thus ,the Law was put in place to ensure compliance with the directives of ending the Menace.
The Chairperson of Ekiti FIDA, Mrs Oyinade Olatunbosun appreciated the Clergy and congregation for hosting FIDA , the Executives and members for the support in making the day’s event a successful one.
She charged the midwives and entire congregation that “all hands must be on deck to eradicate FGM in our various communities”
She emphasised on the theme for the year; ” Accelerating Investment to end FGM” urged “all machineries be set in place to put an end to the menace by 2030”.