Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has declared an end to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the state. Experts said Ekiti State has the highest rate of FGM practice in the South West.
The monarchs, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other stakeholders reached an agreement yesterday to end the practice at the end of a one-day workshop in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
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The workshop on FGM was organised by UNICEF in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Information.
Mrs Oluronke Adetayo, UNICEF FGM consultant in South West said Ekiti has overtaken Osun in FGM practice in the zone.
“No force can come from Abuja and stop FGM in Ekiti, except the locals themselves led by our traditional rulers, religious leaders, market men and women, women groups and students to stop this harmful practice.”
She described the practice as a manifestation of gender inequality, abuse of human rights and a violation of women and girls, which could create instability in the system, if not stopped.
The Executive Secretary, Ekiti State Bureau of Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Adegboyega Morakinyo, said the state has enacted anti-FGM law since 2011, and amended in 2019.
He said the law provides a fine of N200, 000 or one-year imprisonment for offenders.
