The Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health, organised a one‑day capacity‑building workshop on the abandonment of female genital mutilation (FGM) on 3 May 2024. The training, held at the Plaza De Aruna Hotel in Oyo Town, brought together medical officers of health, health educators and monitoring and evaluation officers from all 33 local government areas in the state.
According to a statement released by Information Commissioner Prince Dotun Oyelade, the session forms part of ongoing efforts to eradicate harmful traditional practices and to safeguard the health and rights of women and girls in Oyo State. Dr Muideen Olatunji, Executive Secretary of the Primary Health Care Board, addressed participants through the Director of Special Duties, Dr Abiodun Akeem Akande, reaffirming the board’s commitment to ending FGM.
Olatunji described FGM as “a harmful and outdated practice that must be eliminated through sustained advocacy, community engagement and strengthened health‑care systems.” He emphasised the crucial role of primary‑health‑care workers in driving behavioural change at the grassroots level and urged participants to become active advocates in their communities. “The training was designed to equip health workers with the knowledge and tools needed to identify, prevent and respond effectively to cases of FGM and other forms of gender‑based violence,” he said.
During the programme, Mrs Bilikis Olawoyin, Programme Officer for UNFPA, delivered a detailed presentation on FGM, covering its definition, types, prevalence, causes and consequences, as well as recent trends in Oyo State. She noted that the practice—often mislabelled as “female circumcision”—has no medical benefits and exposes girls and women to severe physical, psychological and emotional complications. Olawoyin highlighted the socio‑cultural factors that sustain FGM, including myths, misconceptions and community pressure, and called for collective action to eliminate the practice.
The workshop provided participants with practical training on referral pathways for survivors of gender‑based violence and FGM, stressing timely medical care, psychosocial support and legal assistance. Attendees received identification jackets, information‑education‑communication (IEC) materials and reporting booklets to facilitate fieldwork and documentation of cases.
The board reiterated its intention to collaborate closely with development partners, stakeholders and community leaders to achieve total abandonment of FGM in the state. The training concluded with a renewed call for participants to serve as frontline advocates and to intensify awareness campaigns aimed at protecting the rights and well‑being of every girl child in Oyo.
The World Health Organization defines FGM as any procedure involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non‑medical reasons. The practice offers no health benefits and can cause severe bleeding, urinary problems, cysts, menstrual difficulties, infections, obstetric complications and increased risk of newborn death.
