CUSTODIANS OF CULTURE WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS UNITE VOICE : DECLARED IN A SIGNED AGGREMENT AGAINST FGM.

 

STORY: BISODUN BASSEY 

During a Communique presentation, custodians of culture and traditions with FGM relevant institutions, 

 religious leaders agreed to a declaration signed by all, to put an end to Female Genital Mutilation, and to promote gender equality, the High - level conference for traditional and religious leaders on transforming social norms and eliminating FGM to promote gender equality,  was held at LG training centre Secretariat on the 29th of December 2025 in Ibadan Oyo State.

FGM major speakers and representatives, Mrs Balikis Olawoyin (SPHCB), Mrs Awosenusi from the Ministry of Justice, and others handled discussions on consequences of FGM, the aftermath, according to the demographic health survey from 2013 to 2024, contradicting beliefs that triggered cutting of girl's, stereotypes assumptions, the post trauma after the culture, emphasised need to end such harmful practice's such as, removing part of the clitoris or  in full ,either by clitoridectomy, excision, infibulation,and others using corrosive substance, it was recorded that most victims bleed to death in many case's, some will have prolonged labour, difficulties in child birth, fissures due to scar's, either from percial removal of prepuce orifice or while scraping tissues surrounding the female private part, these are the causes of infections times without number.

Director Center for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health(CCPRH) in his welcome speech, Prof.Oladosu Ojengbede, a gynaecologist, after series of wealth experience from well established FGM historical facts, having handled case's of FGM victims and Survivor's in countless situations, " it is not something to write home about" While he stressed the need to eliminate and abandon Female Genital Mutilation at all cost.

One of the FGM survivors narrated her personal trauma ordeal, living with years of traumatic stress disorder to date. She explained in detail's how FGM survivors are suffering in silence (dyspareunia) pain's during intercourse, living with anxiety and distress, unnecessary conflicts with partners at home, if some home's are not broken already. 

The need for the declaration signed to end Violence against Women and Girls by Perpetrators make the president Council of traditional Baales at the Communique presentation, Baale  Oladapo Wasiu Aare, expanciate the popular yoruba adage that says " Omo Ki I ku lowo onikola " which automatically means a Girl being mutilated will die through bleeding, not in the eye's of the one who did the cut but at the victims residence, victims are likely to die" due to excessive bleeding, or haemorrhage at home , so therefore it is harmful to continue such harmful cultural practices against humanity. 

Stakeholders were not excempted, and Dr Christiana Bolade Omidiji FGM advocate described the high- conference targeted at owners of the Society basically to transform social norms towards eliminating FGM to promote gender equality in Oyo state, as an eye opener,  changing previous perceptions with high level summit, at which failure to oblique attracts a jail term  after facing being charged to the court of law." Engaging with custodians of culture and religious leaders really makes sense.

Worthy of note, was IFA  representative, Asiwaju Ijo Ose meji, oja oba Ibadan, chief Ojekunle Ifasesan, having conceptualised the indispensable factors,  surrounding repercussion from cutting a Girl according to statistics, that distinguished facts from fallacies, he also declared Say No to Female Genital Mutilation " since the Society already accepted, we will do same" he said in an interview with Reporters @ large.

Other Speakers at the conference were, representatives from the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Member World Dementia  Council Iyalaje Akinyele LG chief Mrs Kikelomo Laniyonu Edwards, other traditional leaders, Religious organisations, Community Heads (Mogaji) WOWICAN Mrs Ayodele, CAN Prophet Solomon Folorunso, MWASI  director women program, Fomwan Amirah Oyo State Latifat Dairo.event powered by UNFPA- UNICEF JOINT PROGRAMME FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.