In commemoration of this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation,FGM, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Ekiti state on Tuesday carried out a wide Sensitization to secondary schools in the state for enlightenment on the fight against FGM.
The Day is annually celebrated every 6th of February. The theme of the year 2024 is “Her Voice,Her Future”.
The NAWOJ Chairperson,Mrs Fatima Bello said the aim of the Sensitization to different schools in the state is to make the students ambassadors in the fight against the FGM.
Mrs Bello said:. “The World has projected that by the year 2030, the fight against the FGM would be totally conquered. However, the prevalence of FGM despite all the efforts remains a challenge that needs to be conquered to be able to eradicate the obsolete practice.
“This is why NAWOJ in commemoration of this year International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM decide to make the students ambassadors and representatives in the fight against FGM.
“The Students as young ones are close to their parents , guardians and people in their communities, the NAWOJ Sensitization would equip them to be able to educate and enlighten the Practitioners , so that the advocates of FGM would stop the menace and focus on meaningful engagement ”
Among the schools visited by the women Journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital during the Program are :
Ado grammar school poly road,Ijadu high school Ijadu, All souls school bank road , Olaoluwa Muslim grammar school ilawe road, Baptist high school Ilawe road, Government college poly road
and Ikingbinsin Olorunda community high school
A student at Government College,Oyewumi Success who spoke on behalf of others expressed readiness to spread the message on the fight against the FGM all over.
“FGM is dangerous and has no health benefits, the numerous disadvantages are hazardous to the life and well being of female child , we promise regular enlightenment in our various communities so that the world can achieve the determination on the elimination of the FGM by 2030.”