Residents of Akinlalu community in Osun State, Nigeria, have publicly renounced the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) and pledged to report offenders to law enforcement agencies. This declaration was made during a community program organized by Action Health Incorporated (AHI), a non-governmental organization, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The event brought together community members and key stakeholders, including traditional leaders and religious clerics. Fatima Idris, AHI’s Program Officer, commended the community for their unanimous decision to abandon FGM, citing the organization’s efforts to engage with community leaders and members to ensure broad support. Mary Bifarin, founder of the Mary Care Foundation, noted that community-based organizations worked closely with AHI to mobilize residents against FGM, ensuring that the monarch, his chiefs, and the entire community were involved in the decision-making process.
The Alakinlalu of Akinlalu, Oba Israel Oluwabusola, emphasized that the community had collectively agreed to end the practice of FGM, citing increased awareness of the health risks associated with it. He pledged to collaborate with relevant authorities to enforce the decision and ensure compliance, stating that anyone caught practicing FGM would be handed over to law enforcement agencies. The monarch attributed the community’s change of heart to the program, which helped them understand the long-term dangers of FGM, including complications that can lead to stillbirth.
This initiative is part of broader efforts in Osun State to address harmful practices, including a recent training program for adolescent students on comprehensive sexuality education. The program, organized by AHI with support from UNFPA and the Osun State Ministry of Education, focuses on sexual and reproductive health awareness and the dangers associated with FGM. By renouncing FGM, the Akinlalu community has taken a significant step towards protecting the health and well-being of its female members, and the initiative serves as a model for other communities to follow. The community’s decision is expected to have a positive impact on the health and human rights of its residents, particularly women and girls.
