By joshua Gov Nwifuru’s Wife Vows To Eradicate FGM Practice In Ebonyi
By Our Correspondent
The wife of the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief (Mrs) Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, has reiterated her office commitment to eradicating the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and cutting, declaring that the harmful practice has no health benefit in the modern society while announcing the BERWO foundations’ readiness to deal decisively with perpetrators to serve as deterrent to others.
Mrs Nwifuru stated this during the Ebonyi State Women’s leadership summit on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the Better Health for Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons Foundation (BERWO), at the Women Development Centre in Abakaliki, the State capital.
The summit brought together wives of traditional rulers, women religious leaders, civil society organisations, survivors and other key stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Nwifuru described FGM as a dangerous practice that exposes girls and to severe pain, emotional trauma and lifelong health complications. She said the state government would sustain aggressive sensitization to ensure total eradication of the practice.
“We are going to create awareness across the state. All the local government chairpersons will produce jingles in their local dialects and share them on social media and also launch campaigns in the rural schools, churches, markets and other public places. I will also continue speaking on radio stations about the dangers of FGM. If anyone is found guilty after all these efforts, I will hold the local government chairpersons responsible,” she said.
She charged stakeholders, traditional rulers and their wives, religious leaders, community leaders and chairpersons of the thirteen local government Areas of the State to intensity campaign against the menace to ensure Its total eradication.
The governor’s wife called on members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly to strengthen advocacy against FGM, stressing that every girl deserves to grow up in a safe environment free from harmful traditional practices.
“Together we are working to ensure that every girl child and women live healthier and safer. We cannot continue to accept practices that put the lives of our daughters at risk. I urge all leaders present to promote the dignity of our girls. I remain committed to initiatives that advance the welfare, education and protection of women and girls,” she added.
Delivering a goodwill message, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Douglas Ogbueli, warned that FGM could result in lifelong trauma and urged participants to take the campaign to their various communities.
“Female genital mutilation could lead to lifelong trauma. I encourage everyone here to spread this message so that together we can eliminate the practice,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of wives of traditional rulers, Ugo Eze Chiamaka Ezzagu commended Mrs. Nwifuru for championing the campaign, noting that her community had remained free of FGM through continuous sensitization.
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Felicia Nwankpuma, also praised the First Lady’s sustained advocacy, assuring that participants would utilise the knowledge gained to strengthen the campaign across the state.
Felicia Nwankpuma, also praised the First Lady’s sustained advocacy, assuring that participants would utilise the knowledge gained to strengthen the campaign across the state.
A Consultant Gynaecologist, Prof. Johnson Obunna, described FGM as medically unjustifiable, revealing that about 18 percent of the procedures are carried out by birth attendants, nurses and midwives. “There are no health benefits whatsoever. It is inhuman to cut off the female clitoris. Religious leaders should educate parents and even verify during child dedication that such harmful acts have not been carried out,” he said.
During a panel discussion, representatives of traditional rulers’ wives, civil society organisations and religious leaders outlined practical measures for ending FGM. They recommended sustained palace sensitization, royal decrees prohibiting the practice, community by-laws prescribing sanctions for offenders, grassroots awareness campaigns and strict enforcement of the Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law.
Speaking on behalf of UNFPA, the organisation’s representative Abubakar Zabaida, pledged continued collaboration with Ebonyi State to strengthen support for survivors and promote justice. “We are ready to deepen our partnership with Ebonyi women, strengthen survivors to get justice and ensure that no woman lives in fear but thrives in a free society,” the representative said.
The summit ended with the presentation of a communique by Barr. Faithvin Nwanchor, in which women leaders, survivors and stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to ending FGM, enforcing the Ebonyi State Violence Against Persons Law 2018, as amended in 2022, and protecting the rights and dignity of every girl child and women in the state.