By Tyobur Adanyi
ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – A nongovernmental organisation, The Girl Generation has launched an initiative, National Anti Female Genital Mutilation Youth Network in Nigeria to help tackle the menace.
No fewer than 19 million girls undergo Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria yearly, arising principally from deeply rooted cultural practices across the federation.
Kelechukwu Nwachukwu Lucky, the programme officer for The Girl Generation in Nigeria, speaking at the official launch of the initiative, explained that the desk study conducted in the country has given rise to the initiative aimed at curtailing the practice.
The Girl Generation is a social change communications initiative, providing a global platform for galvanising, catalysing and amplifying the Africa-led movement to end FGM. It seeks to inspire organisations and individuals, including youth across the most affected communities in Africa to end FGM in one generation.
“It is not in the news. It is a deeply rooted cultural practice. So we now feel that there is power in the young people to end FGM. We feel that they hold the key. If the circle is broken once, it is broken forever. They will say no, my daughter will not undergo such practice and it will end. In November last year, we gathered these youths and formed a network to help end FGM in Nigeria”, he informed.
Lucky said the project, which is funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) decided to comprehensively integrate the youths into the framework not just as future parents but leaders of tomorrow who are now gradually becoming aware of their respective roles as drivers of social and economic change as well as the need for them to change negatives practices that have far-reaching consequences.
In his speech, Dr. Christopher Ugboko, the head of gender, adolescent and elderly division of the federal ministry of health, who also representated his minister, pointed out that the vision of the ministry is to see that the practice would be eroded wherever it is practised.
Ugboko also maintained that the effort which cut across his ministry, youth organisations, civil society organisations as well as other critical stakeholders have been galvanised to ensure that the collaboration reverses the trend.He also said the country strategy will sustainably help to address the issue.
Meanwhile, to the director of family health in the ministry of health, Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, the collaboration is aimed at charting the general direction for strengthening the Nigerian national campaign agaisnt the menace through the sharing of social change communication strategies (2015-2020) of the girl generation.
“The National prevalence rate for FGM is 30% according to the 2013 national demographic and health survey. This launch therefore is an important step towards the elimination of FGM given the fact that the youths are valuable agents of change and their involvement will go a long way in achieving the great target. It is our hope that today’s event will significantly count markedly in bringing the prevalence to zero”, she stressed.
Sundiata Post reports that efforts by the mministry of health to end the practice include development of a reviewed policy, commencement of the second phase of the global efforts against FGM, the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Actct 2015 and support to states through intensive Advocacy in Abia, Delta, Edo, Kwara and the federal capital territory.
Highlights of the occasion include induction of Abimbola Aladejare, Chiamaka Uzomba and Raymond Ukwa as ambassadors for the project. They were charged to use their energy, skills, talents and contacts as well as the in-house training to eliminate the practice where it is found in the country. They individually promised to justify the confidence reposed in them.
Goodwill messages were received from the circumcisers association of Nigeria, United Nations Population Fund Agency ( UNFPA) and Population Council who are providing technical and evidenced based assistance to the project.