By Peter Okutu

ABAKALIKI- THERE was excitement in Enonyi State last week when 26 communities across three local government areas in the state banned the age-long traditional mutilation or cutting of female genital in the area.  The abolition of Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting, FGM/C, which had impacted negatively on women and girls in the area, took place at the Izzi Nnodo Cultural Centre, Amegu in Izzi Local Government Area of the state.

FGM is the practice of intentionally cutting or altering the female genital organs in a bid to stop them from becoming wayward. In most societies where FGM happens, it is seen as a cultural tradition, deeply rooted in inequality between the sexes. However, the practice was abolished by the Chief Custodians of the Culture in Izzi clan led by the oldest man in the clan, Ishuke Ogbedege Nkwuda said to be over 120 years old.

Reading out the public declaration, the Secretary, Izzi Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Emmanuel Nwojiji, explained that though mutilation of female genitalia had been an age long tradition of clan it had brought serious health hazards on women hence it had to be abolished.

•L-R : Wife of Ebonyi Deputy Governor, Mrs .Eric Igwe; wife of Ebonyi Governor, Mrs. Rachael Umahi and others at the abolition of FGM in Ebonyi

He explained that the Autonomous Communities in the Clan had mapped out various ways to punish offenders, including denial of right to farmland and excommunication for a period of time.

Speaking, shortly after the public declaration, abolishing FGM/C at Izzi Nnodo Cultural Centre, Amegu, an elated wife of Ebonyi State governor, Mrs Rachel Umahi, emphasized that her pet project, Family Succour and Upliftment Foundation would engage other clans and local government areas across the state for a similar public declaration.

Mrs. Umahi who thanked the people of Izzi clan for the initiative expressed optimism that with the public declaration by the people, the issue of FGM would soon be a thing of the past in the state, pointing out that her Foundation, would remain a veritable tool for the protection of the girl child and women’s empowerment  across the state.

Female-genital-mutilation

She further noted that her office would ensure that all relevant stakeholders keyed into the policy of the state towards the complete eradication of the FMG/C which had over the years become a source of pain to girls and women in the area.

Also, in his remarks, the UNICEF Chief  Field Officer in Enugu, Mr. Ibrahim Conteh commended traditional rulers in the state for their vital roles geared towards eradicating the obnoxious practice in every nook and cranny of the state. Conteh, represented by WASH Specialist in the Office, Mr Amos Kudzala, said that the exercise would mark a new chapter for the next generation of girls and women leaving in and around the location and Ebonyi State at large.

He further said that Ebonyi had the second highest FGM prevalence rate in the country and urged the communities to step up its sensitization efforts against the practice. The UNICEF representative stressed that the obnoxious practice was a social norm being fuelled by myths, preconceptions and ignorance about social expectations adding that seven out of every 10 girls or women had suffered preventable and irreversible damage to their genital organs just as many had died as a result of the consequences.

“As you may be aware now, FGM is one of the most harmful pervasive practices known to the human race since the era of inhuman practices like human sacrifice, killing of twins and slavery. The harmful practice of FGM has been endured by generations and tolerated or promoted due to multiple factors of preconceptions and pluralistic ignorance.”

Second highest FGM prevalent rate

“Ebonyi State has the second highest FGM prevalent” rate at 74 per cent and ranks second highest in the country. Embedded in these numbers are the lives of girls and women.”