As the world commemorates International Day for Zero Tolerance against Female Genital mutilation, Stakeholders have called for a sustainable solution that would encourage traditional birth attendants, Faith based Organizations to discourage the practice of female Genital mutilation.
At a day sensitization to celebrate 2025 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Female Circumcision which was organized by Global Awarenesses for Healthy Living Initiative, (GHALI) Faracare Foundation For Human Development, (FARDEF) and Kids & Teens Resources Centre, Akure Ondo state in partnership with Ondo state Alternative medicine Board.
In her welcome Address, The Executive Director, of GHALI, Mrs. Margaret Adebayo highlighted the consequences of female genital mutilation to severe pains, excessive Bleeding, infection, Obstruction of labor, and maternal mortality among others.
Similarly, the Executive Director FARDEF, Mrs Olufisoye Adenitan said her organization would continue to leverage the media platform to gear conversation on advocacy against violating women and girls.
Also, the Executive Director of Kids &Teens Resources Centre, Mrs Folasade Bamigboye, admonishes participants to take action against the practice of Female genital mutilation, considering the enormous challenges it poses to women and girls’ health.
In her remarks, the Former Special Adviser to the Ondo State Governor on Gender, Chief Mrs Olamide Falana, admonished traditional Birth Attendants to desist from the act and also be a searchlight to exposing those who may still be practicing it, saying laws are in place to punish offenders of this act.
Also, the Executive Secretary, Ondo State Agency against Gender-based Violence, Mrs Bolanle Afolabi said that the agency was always available to protect the rights of women and girls against violence in the state
Others who spoke at the event,include the President of Women-Led NGO in Ondo State Ambassador Chaplain Folake Esan, and the Administrative Secretary Alternative Medicine Board Mrs Lucy Ranti Akerele joined their voices to condemn the act.
In a panel discussion at the event, The representative of the Director of Family Health, Ministry of Health Dr. Toyin Adeyalo-Ogundare Ministry of Women Affairs, Mr. Ibukun Akindele, and a representative of the International Federation of Women Lawyers Mrs. Debbie Dmonster -Sagba called for collaboration between government and the faith-based organizations.. traditional birth attendants and youth led- organization to eradicate the practice
Dr. Adeyalo -Ogundare educated the women on the health implications while Mrs. Debbie Dmonster-Sagba spelled out the consequences and the position of the law to perpetrators of Female Genital mutilation
Some of the participants who spoke Oluwaseyi Jimoh, Olatuwase Olatomiwa Appreciated the gesture and the awareness creation to improve the knowledge of people to reduce the practice.
The event which was anchored by Reverend Mrs Bola Inyang also had in attendance Dr Mrs Faozat Aragbaye.