Segun Showunmi in Ibadan
The Nigerian Government has warned practitioners of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) to desist from the act or risk four years imprisonment if the criminal charge against them is established by the court
Penpushing reports that the Oyo State Director, National Orientation Agency, (NOA) Mrs. Folake Ayoola, made this known while speaking during a two-day capacity building for stakeholders for the implementation of policies to end Female Genital Mutilation held in Oyo town.
The Director urged Female Genital Mutilation ( FGM) practitioners to desist from such practice and take up other legal job as means of livelihood, adding that offenders are also liable to N500,000 fine.
“We are trying our best. We are sensitizing people in all nooks and crannies of Oyo State, telling them the ills of female genital mutilation, which should be stopped. We are alerting them to the fact that there is now a fine of N500,000 or four years imprisonment for perpetrators.”
Penpushing further reports that, speaking at the event, the Executive Director, HACEY Health Initiative, Mrs. Rhoda Robinson, stated that the training was aimed at building the capacity of FGM Alliance members to understand strategic policies.
The Executive Director added that it is also aimed to share ideas on how to end Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) across Nigeria, adding that the programme will further improved knowledge and implementation of policies that will protect women from mutilation in the society.
“We are improving the knowledge and implementation of existing policies and laws that protect women from FGM in our society. And as part of this, we are working with stakeholders across the different sectors and generational age groups to ensure that we have a more inclusive approach to ending FGM and that is what today’s event is all about “,Robinson
“One of the things we are looking at is creating an actionable plan that all FGM members who are sharing the same vision of ending FGM can advocate for policy implementation, educate community members, engage men and boys in ending FGM”,she stated
Penpushing also reports that, earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Health in Oyo State, Dr. Bashir Bello, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Muftau Ayoola, called for adequate awareness on consequences of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) for local circumcisers to quit the barbaric act as well as those who patronise them .
The Commissioner submitted that the act could lead to excessive bleeding from the female genitals, cause vesicovaginal fistual and other complications which could result to untimely death .
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