Nigeria’s Female Genital Mutilation 19.9m Figure Worrisome’

The director, Centre for Gender, Youth and Child Development, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Prof. Ifeoma Mabel Onwuka has said the country’s Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) figure of 19.9 is alarming.

Onwuka spoke to LEADERSHIP on the ocassion of the 2024 Day Against Female Genital Mutilation in Umuahia, Abia State capital, adding that the figure which places the country as the global third highest calls for concern.

She described this year’s theme of the occasion; “Her Voice, Her Future,” as apt and timely, calling for a collaborative effort “to end the practice because of its proven health and psychological consequences.”

She lamented that despite medical practitioners’ warnings against the practice, which include severe bleeding, urinating problems, cysts, infections, complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths, it had continued.

According to the professor of soil Sscience “There’s an urgent need to invest sufficiently to reach the target set in the Sustainable Development Goals of eliminating FGM by 2030.”

Onwuka stressed that non-governmental organizations and other critical stakeholders should partner to promote the elimination of the practice through collaborative and systematic efforts.

“The time is ripe for collective efforts to eliminate this unhealthy practice against female gender. It violates their rights to health, free from torture and inhuman treatment, security and physical integrity.

She announced that the centre is open for collaboration with relevant agencies to amplify the voices of survivors and support their efforts to reclaim their lives, based on their bodily autonomy.