Governor Francis Nwifuru has sought the support of traditional institutions, religious bodies, and community leaders in the fight to eliminate female genital mutilation.

Mr Nwifuru, represented by the deputy speaker of the Ebonyi House of Assembly, Chinedu Onah, made the call in Abakaliki during a one-day conference on ending FGM.

The call, the governor said, became necessary because of the significant influence these leaders have in community-led campaigns against harmful traditional practices.

The conference was organised in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund and the Better Health for Rural Women, Children, and Internally Displaced Foundation, founded by the governor’s wife.

He also urged the traditional and religious rulers to work with the security agencies and the gender-based violence task force to tackle the menace.

The Ebonyi government, he said, is ready to implement the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law as amended.

”Let the clergymen take the warning to worship centres. The traditional rulers should also let their subjects know that the government has come with force to correct the primitive act of FGM,” Mr Nwifuru said.

The governor’s wife, Mary-Maudline, said that traditional rulers and local institutions were critical in mobilising communities and facilitating sensitisation forums to educate people on the dangers of FGM.

She said the summit is dedicated to addressing a practice that has robbed women and their daughters of their dignity, health, and future. She invoked the VAPP law implementation plan to checkmate FGM offenders and persons aiding and abetting effectively.

Andrew Kirima, the programme coordinator and head of office at UNFPA, called for urgent and coordinated action to address FGM. Mr Kirima commended the state government through BERWO for the payment of the counterpart fund contribution.

He said that UNFPA remained committed to supporting the state in achieving the three transformative results, including zero preventable maternal deaths, for child spacing, and zero GBV and harmful practices like FGM.

(NAN)