By Yemi Olajutemu
Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Hon. Mrs Peju Babafemi has reiterated the commitment of Government of the State to eradicating Female Genital Mutilation and other practices inimical to the rights of women and girl child in the state.
Mrs Babafemi said this at the closing ceremony of a three- day program organized for community facilitators from non-governmental organisations and community based organizations in the state, a program sponsored by the Balm In Gilead Foundation for Sustainable development (BIGIF) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ado Ekiti.
The program which was aimed at training the participants on modes of operation on the sensitization, awareness creation, and actions on Female Genital Mutilation as well as providing support for survivors in the state was to equip participants as they would be facilitating Adolescent Circle on ENDFGM in Ekiti state, starting from Oye and Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government areas.
According to Babafemi, the officials of her ministry are working with the Office of the First lady Dr Olayemi Oyebanji to eradicate harmful practices and violence against women and children in our communities.
She stressed that female genital mutilation (FGM) must become a practice of the past in Ekiti State and that all community leaders must join hands with government and the civil society organizations in eradicating it.
Hon Mrs Babafemi charged participants to maximize the knowledge acquired during the training towards achieving the desired results. She affirmed that the Ministry will continue to partner with the civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in pursuance of the zero tolerance policy of Oyebanji led administration for harmful practices and violence in the State.
She sternly warned people who are still perpetrating such acts to desist and that anyone caught in the web of the law would definitely face the consequences.
Also, the Executive Director of Balm in Gilead Foundation (BIGIF) Tunmininu Akerele who said that the three days training was impacthul and exposed participants to competencies they require to function effectively at the grassroots in their advocacy against FGM.
Representatives of various organizations working on EndFGM in the state such as Foundation for Excellent Living and Development for Youths and Women, Abiola Abike Initiative, MAI Initiative Foundation, Bibi Grace Foundation , SODEF were among the participants who said the training had strengthened their capacity, described it as enriching and propellant to doing more practical facilitation towards achieving the SDGs in the State.