Ruth Oginyi
The Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC) in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has established a pool of End FGM champions made up of adolescent girls in Imo state southeast Nigeria.
The event is under the joint donor program on the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) funded by UNFPA.
Correspondent reports that the training was aimed at enhancing the capacity and advocacy skills of the young girls by creating awareness of the harmful effects of FGM, building their self-confidence to resist and denounce FGM, creating a pool of End FGM Champions (Adolescent Girls), and building the capacity of girls to advocate and lend their voices for the elimination of FGM.
The girls were drawn from ten communities in Mbaitolu LGA of Imo state and were trained in life skills.
Ms. Onyinye Okaah the Project Manager and Executive Secretary of CIRDDOC, in a remark, said that the 2-day training intended to prepare them with the necessary skills to enable them to work as change agents in their various localities.
Ms. Okaah who explained the types of FGM to the participants highlighted its consequence and urged the champions to desist from the heinous act.
One of the facilitators, Mr. Jay Okechukwu in his presentation disclosed to the champions that Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) which includes child marriage and FGM affects the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of women and girls.
He maintained that complications of SGBV, child marriage, and FGM affect the health (SRH) of survivors negatively.
According to him, it prevents survivors from achieving their full potential and stated that treatment of complications costs money.
Mrs. Stella Ukaegbu who represented the Imo state Ministry of Health stressed the need to protect the girl child from every form of violence including FGM.
She narrated her ordeal as an FGM survivor and stated that she suffered several complications during childbirth. She regretted that most women are ignorantly practicing Type 4 FGM which is the most prevalent in Imo state.
Mrs. Ukaegbu added that she utilizes every opportunity to disseminate information on the harmful effects of FGM. She concluded with the slogan “Leave the baby girl the way she is made”
The representative of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Vulnerable group, Mrs. Lilian Obua urged the participants to embrace the opportunity before them and make the most out of it. She advised them as champions to end FGM and to speak up whenever they notice issues of violence in their communities.
On his part, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Imo state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. George Amakihe noted that FGM is an obnoxious traditional practice that has negative effects on women and girls.
He stated that the champions have important roles to play in creating awareness in society, especially their peers.
Mr. Amakihe implored the participants to serve as change agents in their various communities.
CIRDDOC expects that the End FGM champions will advocate for the eradication of the practice by engaging their peers extensively on the dangers of FGM.
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