Oyetola’s Wife Pledges To Help End Female Genital Mutilation In Osun

The wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, has promised to continue the fight against female genital mutilation in order to completely eradicate the practice.

She made the commitment during an Abandonment Ceremony Programme on Female Genital Mutilation organized organised by National Orientation Agency incollaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund, held at Ologele in Orolu community.

She vowed to ensure that the traditional practices, which undermines the rights of women, particularly the female genital mutilation, would be completely eradicated.

Mrs Oyetola noted that female genital mutilation is a very dangerous and deadly practice that has been in existence for a very long time added that data analysis from various Studies shows that a lot of girl child and women have lost their lives in the aftermath of being subjected to female genital mutilation.

She said female genital mutilation has no benefit for the women, neither give any benefits to the family of each victims or their respective society adding that, It is a practice hoisted on ignorance which all concerted efforts must be made to stop it.

“We are going to fight against it and I am going to lead it,” she said. “It will be stamped out of this state.”

Mrs Oyetola explained that, the state has enacted law banning the act during the tenure her predecessor Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola.

She now commended the bold steps of various communities who have collaborated with the state during the tenure of last administration to abandon the practice of female genital mutilation .She described the programme as continuation of effort to put the act to an end.

Osun first lady now promised that her foundation IleriOluwa Development Initiative will continue to intensifying efforts in taking the campaign to other part of the state that has not been touched.

Earlier in her address of welcome the State Director, National Orientation Agency Mrs Yomi Olasinde said the National Orientation Agency (NOA )and United Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF) has put all machinery in place at ensuring that female Genital mutilation practice is totally eradicated in the State of Osun and Nigeria at large.

Mrs Olasinde therefore appreciated the tireless efforts of United Nations Children’s fund UNICEF for Sponsoring the programme to reachout to people of the grassroot level that are mostly Vulnerable.

She implored rural inhabitants and all residents in the state on the need for them to shun the practice because of its social, medical and legal implications.

Olasinde assured that the agency, UNICEF and all other stakeholders would not relent on their efforts in ensuring that female genital mutilation practice be totally eradicated in Osun and Nigeria at large.

She commended UNICEF for sponsoring the programme to reach out to the grassroot that are mostly vulnerable.

According to her, “In 2016, National Orientation Agency Osun with support of UNICEF carried out socio-cultural mapping and Geo-referencing of FGM prone communities in Osun State. This was carried out in order to get Geographic Information System GIS data for independent assessment and evidence based on monitoring of activities.

“The outcome of this exercise led to the systematic implementation of Community Dialogues, Training of Community Champions, male engagement training which ultimately culminated in convening consensus building meeting of stakeholders who have become convinced of the need to totally abandon FGM Practice in all ramifications” she said

Highlights of the programme was the signing of certificate on declaration of Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation in Ologele and Cultural display by the Ologele cultural Troupe and present of gift to the wife of the Governor Mrs Kafayat Oyetola by the National Orientation Agency State Director Mrs Yomi Olasinde.