Residents of Akinlalu community in Osun State have publicly declared their decision to abandon the practice of female genital mutilation and to report offenders to security agencies.
The declaration was made during a community programme organised by Action Health Incorporated, a non-governmental organisation, with support from the United Nations Population Fund.
A statement issued by the Programme Officer of AHI, Fatima Idris, and obtained in Osogbo on Friday said the event brought together residents and key stakeholders from the community.
Programme Officer of AHI, Fatima Idris, commended the community for what she described as a unanimous decision to abandon the practice.
She said “the organisation had focused on engaging traditional leaders, religious clerics and community members to ensure broad support.”
Also speaking, the founder of Mary Care Foundation, Mary Bifarin, said community-based organisations worked closely with AHI to mobilise residents against FGM.
“During our time here, we ensured that the monarch, his chiefs, Muslim and Christian clerics and the entire community were carried along to put a stop to FGM,” Bifarin said.
She added that the public declaration was aimed at informing a wider audience of the community’s position on the issue.
Speaking at the gathering, the Alakinlalu of Akinlalu, Oba Israel Oluwabusola, said the community had reached a collective decision to put an end to the practice.
“As the monarch of this town, I have talked to my people and we all have agreed to end the practice of FGM in this community,” the Alakinlalu said.
He added that the community would collaborate with relevant authorities to enforce the decision and ensure compliance.
“We will continue to work with the NGO, health officials and security operatives to ensure that nobody engages in this harmful practice, and anyone caught will be handed over to law enforcement agencies,” he said.
The monarch said increased awareness had helped residents understand the health risks associated with female genital mutilation and noted that the programme had helped the community to better understand the long-term dangers of the practice.
“Our forefathers were not aware then that issues like stillbirth were linked to complications from mutilating female genitals.
“The danger there is too much, and that is why this training is very important for our children and for us,” Oba Oluwabusola added.
He urged participants to extend the message to other residents who were not present at the event.
“I want to urge the people here today to spread the word around the town. If we follow what we have been taught, our children will live healthier lives,” the monarch said.
The initiative follows broader efforts in Osun State to address harmful practices, including recent training of adolescent students from five secondary schools in Ilesa on comprehensive sexuality education.
The education programme, organised by AHI with support from UNFPA and in collaboration with the Osun State Ministry of Education, focuses on sexual and reproductive health awareness and the dangers associated with female genital mutilation.
Osun community pledges end to female genital mutilation
