The wife of Kogi State governor, Sefinat Ododo, has called for collective efforts to end the harmful practice of female genital mutilation in the country.

She made the call in a statement on Thursday in Lokoja, as she joined the global community to mark the 2025 International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation.

IDZTFGM is annually observed on February 6 to raise awareness about the harmful practice of FGM and promote efforts to eliminate it.

The theme of the 2025 IDZTFGM is “Step up the pace,” aimed at strengthening alliances and building movements to end FGM.

FGM is a human rights violation that involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

It is also a form of violence against women and girls, and it has severe physical, emotional, and health consequences, including infection, anxiety, depression, and maternal mortality.

According to UNICEF, more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM.

The fund added that “FGM remains widespread in Nigeria, with an estimated 19.9 million survivors. Nigeria accounts for the third highest number of women and girls who have undergone FGM worldwide, with the risk of cutting highest in the first five years.”

The governor’s wife, therefore, emphasised the urgent need to protect girls and women from the fatal consequences of genital mutilation.

She stated that “the practice is a violation of human rights that has devastated the lives and future of millions of women and girls.”

She called for increased government intervention and support for survivors in Kogi State, stressing the need for collaborative action across sectors to combat the menace.

The governor’s wife reaffirmed her commitment to partnering relevant organisations to strengthen efforts toward eliminating the practice and providing necessary support to affected individuals. 

(NAN)