The Oyo State government has partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to strengthen efforts against female genital mutilation (FGM) and related offences.
The initiative, launched through a multi-state workshop, aims to improve prosecution of FGM cases across Oyo, Edo, Ekiti, and Osun states. Discussions focused on justice system reforms, survivor-centered responses, and cross-sector collaboration.
Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Rotimi Babalola, Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Information, who represented the Commissioner, Prince Dotun Oyelade, described the engagement as timely given the continued prevalence of FGM despite existing laws.
“All five states have adopted the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and the Child Rights Law, which criminalize FGM. However, weak enforcement, poor reporting, and limited survivor-centered responses continue to undermine progress,” Babalola said.
He commended UNICEF for leading the initiative, adding that it would build stakeholder capacity, strengthen case documentation, and improve protection for survivors.
UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Mr. Denis Onoise, highlighted the urgency of ending the practice. He explained its four classifications—clitoridectomy, excision, infibulation, and other harmful procedures—and noted that prosecutions remain rare despite legislative progress.
“We must do ten times more to meet the 2030 goal of ending FGM in Nigeria,” Onoise said, urging stronger legal enforcement, sustainable funding, and engagement with traditional leaders and male advocacy groups.
Dr. Dare Adaramoye, Executive Director of the Trailblazer Initiative, also called for specialized courts to fast-track gender-based violence cases, including FGM.