Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs Priscilla Chidinma Otti, has empowered five survivors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) with cash support and urged the Federal Government to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to permanently eliminate the practice nationwide.
Mrs Otti made the call in Umuahia during an event marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, held at the International Conference Centre.
She described FGM as a grave violation of the fundamental rights of women and girls, stressing that the practice has no medical or cultural justification and exposes victims to severe pain, infections, childbirth complications, and lifelong psychological trauma.
“Female genital mutilation does not make childbirth safer, nor is it prescribed by any religion. Culture exists to protect life and dignity. Any practice that harms girls and violates their bodily autonomy is not culture; it is violence,” the First Lady stated.
Mrs Otti noted that Abia State has taken a firm legal stance against FGM through the full domestication of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
“The law is clear in Abia State: female genital mutilation is a criminal offence, and perpetrators will be held accountable,” she said.
However, she emphasised that legislation alone cannot eradicate the practice, calling for sustained public education, effective reporting systems, and strict enforcement of existing laws.
The governor’s wife further appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and community stakeholders to intensify advocacy efforts and take ownership of the campaign against FGM at the grassroots level.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Women Affairs in Abia State, Dr Maureen Aghukwa, described FGM as a deeply harmful practice that inflicts lasting emotional trauma on victims and, in some cases, results in death.
Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs Chinenye Nwaka, the commissioner observed that despite global and national interventions, millions of girls continue to be subjected to the practice.
She reaffirmed the Abia State Government’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of girls and achieving the total eradication of female genital mutilation by 2030.
In separate remarks, representatives of the Child Protection Network, Caritas Nigeria, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the guest lecturer, Dr Ngozi Okechukwu, unanimously agreed that legal frameworks alone are insufficient to end FGM.
They called for intensified awareness campaigns, community-driven interventions, and sustained long-term investments aimed at eliminating the practice.
