UNICEF Sensitises 5.68m Nigerians On Genital Mutilation

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that over 5.68 million individuals have been reached through radio, television and social media to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria.
The UNICEF FGM Consultant in Imo and Ebonyi states, Mr Ben Mbakwem, said this at the 7th quarterly Meeting of Imo State Technical Committe (STC) on FGM Abandonement, organised by the Imo State Ministry of Gender and Vulnerable Group Affairs in Owerri.
Mbakwem who was represented by Dr Blessing Azubuike, the Director, Gender Affairs in the state Ministy of Gender  at the programme held in collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA and National Orientation Agency (NOA), said about 5094 girls were reached through sensitisation in primary and secondary schools.
According to him, 3,903 girls and women had also received health, social and legal services.
He said the figures covered the five states of Imo, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo covered by NOA and UNICEF as states with the most prevalent in FGM.
Mbakwem said that UNFPA- UNICEF 2018 Joint Report indicated that 18 per cent of girls and women in Nigeria aged 15 to 49 years had undergone FGM, while over 14.8 million girls were at risk between 2015 and 2030.
He said  that a lot of progress had been made since Nigeria joined other countries on the joint programme on FGM abondonement.
The official identified the successes to include signing of the declaration of FGM performed by health-care providers as an unethical practice by 13 medical regulatory bodies after their meeting on medicalisation of FGM in Nigeria.