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| Ms. Comfort Ojo, Founder, ProjectSmile for Humanity Foundation and Kaduna State Commissioner of WCA |
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| Across Section of Participants |
Stakeholders in gender advocacy, security, and public health have renewed calls for the complete eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), describing the practice as a harmful social norm that poses serious health and psychological risks to women and girls.
The call was made during a sensitization and community dialogue programme held in Kaduna to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, organised by the Women Community in Africa (WCA) in partnership with ProjectSmile for Humanity Foundation, the Innovation Hub of Kaduna State University, the Centre for Gender Studies, and the Society for Family Health (SFH).
Speaking at the event, the founder of ProjectSmile for Humanity Foundation and Kaduna State Commissioner of WCA, Ms. Comfort Ojo, described FGM as a deeply rooted but silent harmful practice that continues to thrive in many communities.
According to her, ending FGM requires sustained community engagement, awareness creation, and capacity building, especially among young people. She explained that the programme featured a community dialogue involving students, traditional leaders, and security agencies, aimed at empowering participants to become advocates against FGM in their communities.
“As part of today’s activities, young men also took a pledge to protect their sisters, future wives, and daughters from FGM. These ambassadors will serve across faculties and communities to promote gender rights and sexual reproductive health awareness,” Ojo said.
She added that WCA plans to sustain the momentum through upcoming activities, including International Women’s Day celebrations in March, menstrual hygiene sensitization programmes in schools in May, and the official launch of WCA in Kaduna State in June to strengthen partnerships with stakeholders.
Also speaking, an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Assistant Superintendent of Corps Shehu Suleman Maiyaki, noted that although FGM exists in Kaduna, available reports suggest it is less prevalent compared to some other states identified in a 2022 UNICEF report.
He warned that FGM has severe consequences on women’s sexual and reproductive health, including complications during childbirth, infections, and long-term psychological trauma. Maiyaki called for the inclusion of anti-FGM education in school curricula and marriage counselling programmes to discourage the practice at both family and societal levels.
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| Mrs. Rita Ignatius-Bivan of the Society for Family Health |
In her presentation, Mrs. Rita Ignatius-Bivan of the Society for Family Health, working under the A360 Accelerate Project, emphasized that FGM is not supported by the Nigerian government and constitutes a violation of human rights.
She explained that the procedure often leads to loss of sexual pleasure, emotional distress, excessive bleeding during delivery, infections, and scarring, urging participants—especially adolescents and young adults—to speak out against the practice and advocate for its elimination within their communities.
Participants at the event pledged to intensify grassroots advocacy, with organizers expressing optimism that sustained awareness and community ownership would help accelerate the fight against FGM in Kaduna State and beyond.