Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji wants religious organizations and marriage registrars to caution intending couples against Female Genital Mutilation when eventually they give birth to girl child.
The Governor’s wife stated this in Ado Ekiti at the commemoration of this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance For Female Genital Mutilation.
Dr Oyebanji noted that the warning became necessary because those being mutilated in the name of circumcision were prone to be infected with various diseases through contermination.
“If you check UNICEF data, Ekiti is one of the top four states where Female Genital Mutilation is on the rife, if such cases are brought to you and you reject it, they will not have choice than to go back home” she said.
The Governor’s wife who passionately appealed to parents not to abuse the rights of girls through FGM, expressed the hope that after this year’s celebration, the numbers of those engaging in the unwholesome practice would have drastically reduced.
She urged all stakeholders including, Marriage Registrars, Religious organizations, Traditional birth attendants and health personnel to give due attention to stoppage of female Genital Mutilation.
“I reteriate that the fight against Female Genital Mutilation necessitates the cooperation of all so that the collective efforts to create a world free of the scourge could be achieved” Dr Oyebanji added.
In her Goodwill message, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Peju Babafemi said the theme of this year’s celebration “Her Voice Her Future: Investing in Survivor’s-Led Movement to End Female Genital Mutilation” and one-day training organised for stakeholders would create a forum to strengthen the bond of fighting the harmful practice.
In their contributions, the Chairperson, Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs who doubles as Deputy speaker, Mrs Bolaji Olagbaju and the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani sought the collaboration of all stakeholders to end the manace.
