By Mosunmola Ilesanmi
Ado Ekiti
Dishing out adequate content through broadcast commentaries, radio drama, column, editorials, adversarial journalism against Female genital mutilation as well as constant engagement of the media have been suggested as part of the ways to making improvement on oxygen of publicity given to the efforts, laws, policies against cutting the female children in Ekiti State.
The suggestions were part of the conclusion reached at a one day media round table media dialogue involving representatives of various civil societies, NGOs, Professional bodies and journalists organized by the Hacey Health Initiative on the Stop Cut Project.
At the interactive session the state project cordinator of Hacey Health Initiative Nifemi Ayeni explained that it was necessary to carry the media along, beyond just reporting the activities of the NGO but make them ambassadors and advocate against circumcising the female children.
According to her there is the need for every member of the society to rise against the practice which has no positive implication but negative effects on the victims and the larger society.
Panelists including the Representative of the International Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA, Mrs Schoolarstical Ojo, the Chairperson National Association of women Journalists NAWOJ, Mrs Fatimat Bello, an official of the National Orientation agency NOA Mrs Funmi Eleyinmi as well as an official of the state Ministry of information enlightened the gathering on the ways to preventing FGM as well as the proper way to blowing the whistle in any case, for laws to take charge of perpetrators in order to serve as deterrent to those who are still involved in the act.
According to them, it is high time the society rose collectively against the practice which causes alot of damages to the physical, mental and psychological health of the victims.
A cross section of Journalist particiapants who were chosen from the print, broadcast and online media , including Mr Yaqoub Popoola, Mr Deji Ogunsakin, Mrs Mosunmola Ilesanmi among others expressed their readiness to support the Non-governmental organization as achieving zero level FGM in the state.