The Oyo State Government has intensified efforts to eliminate Female Genital Mutilation across the state after equipping health workers with advanced advocacy and intervention skills aimed at protecting women and girls from the harmful practice.
The initiative was carried out through the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund and the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health. The programme brought together medical officers, health educators, and monitoring officials from all 33 local government areas of the state for a capacity building exercise focused on combating Female Genital Mutilation and other forms of gender based violence.
According to officials, the training forms part of broader efforts to strengthen awareness campaigns, improve grassroots advocacy, and build a more responsive healthcare system capable of identifying, preventing, and managing cases of Female Genital Mutilation across communities in Oyo State. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Speaking during the programme, the Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Muideen Olatunji, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ending the practice, describing Female Genital Mutilation as a dangerous and outdated tradition that has no medical benefit. Represented by the Director of Special Duties, Dr Abiodun Akeem Akande, he stressed that primary healthcare workers remain critical to changing harmful cultural attitudes and influencing behavioral transformation at the grassroots level.
Health experts at the event educated participants on the different forms, causes, prevalence, and long term consequences of Female Genital Mutilation, emphasizing that the practice often leads to severe physical, emotional, and psychological complications for victims. They also highlighted the growing need for proper referral systems to ensure survivors receive medical treatment, psychosocial support, and legal assistance where necessary.
Programme Officer Mrs Bilikis Olawoyin explained that despite increased awareness over the years, myths, social pressure, and deeply rooted cultural beliefs continue to sustain the practice in some communities. She warned that many girls still face risks of mutilation at very young ages, often without their consent or understanding of the implications.
Participants were also encouraged to intensify community awareness campaigns and work closely with traditional rulers, religious leaders, schools, and local organizations to promote the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation. To support these efforts, health educators were provided with identification jackets, educational materials, and reporting booklets to strengthen field operations and documentation activities.
The renewed campaign comes amid wider efforts by the Oyo State Government and development partners to reduce the prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation across the South West region. Recent data presented by health advocates showed that although the practice has declined significantly in Oyo State over the years, thousands of girls remain vulnerable in certain communities.
Stakeholders at the training stressed that Female Genital Mutilation is not only a public health issue but also a violation of the rights and dignity of women and girls. They reiterated calls for stronger collaboration between government agencies, healthcare institutions, civil society groups, and community leaders to ensure total eradication of the practice before the 2030 global target.
The World Health Organization defines Female Genital Mutilation as procedures involving the partial or total removal of external female genital organs for non medical reasons. Health experts warn that the practice can result in excessive bleeding, infections, childbirth complications, infertility, trauma, and increased risk of death among newborns and mothers.
As advocacy efforts continue across Oyo State, authorities believe empowering frontline healthcare workers will play a major role in protecting vulnerable girls, improving survivor support systems, and accelerating the complete abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation in the state.
