A Non Governmental Organization, HACEY Health Initiative , has concluded plans to engage security agencies and other key stakeholders on a two day summit as parts of its efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation ( FGM ) in the society , particularly , in Oyo , Ekiti and Osun States.
The virtual conference tagged ” No Time for Global Inaction : Unite, Fund And Act Against FGM ” is scheduled to hold on Friday , 5th and Saturday, 6th February , 2021 .
The Executive Director , HACEY Health Initiative , Rhoda Robinson , disclosed this in a statement issued and made available to journalists.
According to the statement the capacity building supported by access bank , was designed to mark the United Nations International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
and also advocate total involvement of the law enforcement agencies in ensuring FGM free societies in earnest .
The statement also indicated that the conference will have in attendance, Wife of the Ekiti State Governor,
Her Excellency, Mrs. Bisi Adeleye Fayemi, Oyo State Commissioner for Health
Dr. Bashir Bello . Her Royal Majesty, Queen Morenike Naomi Oluwaseyi and Country Director, UNFPA , Nigeria ,
Ulla Elisabeth Mueller .
Others include
Commissioner of Police , Osun State Division , CP Olokode Olawale( psc) representatives of Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), South West Security Network Outfit , tagged Amotekun Corps amongst other security outfits In the country.
Rhoda said it was essential to incorporate security men in the crusade in order to accelerate the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation in their communities and also raise public awareness on the harmful practice .
The statement reads ” More than 50 million girls below 15 years of age are at risk of being subjected to Female Genital Mutilation if action is not taken to stop the practice by 2030″
” Some states in Nigeria have localized actions to sensitize, support and incentivize FGM excisors in a bid to put an end to FGM and also bring perpetrators to book”
She noted that HACEY Health Initiative with support from UN Trust Fund and Spotlight Initiative is executing a 3 years project to collaborate with stakeholders across government agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations and local communities to end female genital mutilation in Ekiti, Oyo and Osun States, which according her , the practice is prevalence .