Wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Titilola Adeleke, has expressed grave concern over widespread issues of domestic violence and female genital mutilation (FGM) in the society.
Expressing her displeasure at a rally held as part of 16th World Gender-Based Violence Sensitisation Campaign in Osogbo, Mrs Adeleke charged stakeholders to wage war against the ugly practice to end it in the state.
Represented by Ms. ‘Lola Adewale, the Director of Gender Affairs in the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Mrs. Lola Adewale, Mrs. Adeleke commended the stakeholders which included United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Osun State Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs, Ministry of Health and others for the programme.
Participants were educated about the harmful effects associated with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and encouraged to publicly declare their communities’ commitment to zero tolerance for FGM.
The sensitisation rally took the organisers to five communities that included Dagbolu Ataoja, Ifesowapo, Temidire, Sapo/Alubata, and Omumuyiwa, communities all in Olorunda Local Government area of the state.
In his address, the Commissioner for Health, Barr Jola Akintola, represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Akeem Bello, sought the support and collaboration of the communities to eradicate female genital mutilation at the grassroots level.
The Village Head of Dagbolu, Baale Solagbade Oyebade, expressed gratitude to the state government and UNFPA for their support, particularly in raising awareness about the elimination of FGM in their communities, urging the community to comply with government instructions.
