Abakaliki, Nigeria – Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi state has vowed that his administration will clampdown on perpetrators of the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in order to put an end to the harmful cultural practice in the state.
Nwifuru, represented by the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Chinedu Onah, decried the lives being lost to the practice.
The governor’s vow delivered on Tuesday at a one-day summit aimed at working to end FGM by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with Better Health For Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced (BERWO) Foundation in Abakaliki.
He called on clergy men, traditional institution, religious bodies, town union leaders to work with security agencies working to end Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by clamping down on the menace.
He said that the summit which had the support of the UNFPA and partners was an eye opener.
He said since the practice had been legislated against, the Violent Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law as amended, is now ready to implement the law fully to eradicate FGM in the state.
“Let clergymen take the warning to worship centres and make it compulsory to sermon to end the practice.
“The law is in place and the state house of assembly has empowered you to arrest and prosecute any offender.
“And the traditional leaders who are committed to the course should let their subjects know as well that government has come with force to correct this primitive act,” Nwifuru said.
He promised more support and commitment of the state government to bring end the act in the state.
In her remarks, the governor’s wife, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, promised to end the harmful practices that have endangered the dignity of woman.
She stated that the summit is dedicated to address a practice that has robbed women and daughters of their dignity, health and future.
She invoked the VAPP law implementation plan to effectively checkmate FGM offenders and persons aiding and abetting the scourge.
“UNFPA has played a crucial role in ensuring that FGM is eradicated in the state.
“It requires communities to demand that everyone takes the message back to their people and enforce it with conviction.
“It is time we replace the narrative of silence with the language of protection, compassion and progress. A girl child should be celebrated, educated and empowered not mutilated,” Mrs Nwifuru said.
Mr Andrew Kirima, the Programme Coordinator and Head of UNFPA office in the state, said that the summit “reminds us that we need urgent and coordinated action to address FGM”.
Kirima commended the state government through BERWO for the payment of its counterpart funds.
“With the contributions from government we are able to scale up and reach more people within communities in areas of rolling back GBV, restoring dignity of survivors, repair fistula patients, and empower young girls to live a quality life.
He said that UNFPA remained committed to support the state In achieving the three transformative results – preventing maternal deaths, child spacing and zero GBV and harmful practices like FGM.
He added that it’s supporting the state to generate data within the context to inform decision making.
“Together with the traditional and religious leaders, judiciary will continue community dialogue, support survivors, empower women and work with the health system for care,” Kirima said.
He further thanked the donors, including the European Union, who have funded the programme since inception.
Mrs Goodness Mbaja, the State Public Relations Officer, GBV Taskforce, stated that the VAPP law and implementation plan would guide them to work effectively.
Mbaja described the summit as a laudable programme, adding that it’s a collective effort to protect everyone.
“We will come after you, female circumciser. it is no longer business as usual,” Mbaja said.
The event featured law enforcement agencies, traditional and religious leaders, judiciary among other stakeholders.
