UNICEF, Stakeholders Push for Emergency Fund to End FGM in Kwara

 

The campaign against female genital mutilation (FGM) in Kwara State has gained new momentum, as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and civil society organisations called for an emergency fund to combat the harmful practice and protect girls from abuse.

At a training session in Ilorin for civil society groups, healthcare workers, security agencies, and members of the judiciary on FGM prevention and gender-based violence case management, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Dr. Wilfred Mamah, described FGM as “a horrific mutilation of the female body” and a violation of human rights.

He urged the Kwara State Government to take stronger action. “We expect government at the highest level to raise an emergency grant to end FGM in Kwara. Once such a grant is provided, UNICEF will match it. That political will can galvanize traditional institutions, local governments, and international partners to declare FGM unacceptable in any part of Kwara,” Mamah said.

While acknowledging the Child Rights Law (2006) and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, Mamah warned that weak enforcement is undermining progress. “People are not being prosecuted despite the laws in place,” he added.

The State Commissioner for Social Development, Mariam Nnafatima Imam, stressed that the fight must go beyond legislation.

“The fight against FGM, GBV, and violence against girls is not just a legal battle – it is a moral and social responsibility.

We must bridge the gap between law and practice so that our girls not only know their rights but also feel protected enough to seek justice,” she said.

Also speaking, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Senior Ibrahim, represented by Barrister Grillo Sabitiyu Kikelomo, assured that the government is committed to enforcing the laws.

“Our state has made significant progress through the Child Rights Law and the Violence Against Persons Law, 2020.

These laws reflect Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s determination to safeguard the rights of female citizens,” he said, noting that community sensitization remains key.

Civil society groups are already working to change mindsets at the grassroots. Dr. Christiana Abayomi-Oluwole, CEO of Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC), said more than 55,000 people across four local government areas have signed pledges to abandon FGM, while 30 schools now run anti-FGM clubs.

“When leaders denounce FGM from the pulpit and the palace, the entire community listens. Some practitioners are even willing to abandon the practice if supported with alternative livelihoods,” she explained.

UNICEF and its partners appealed for broader funding to extend interventions across all 16 local government areas of Kwara.

“Every fight against entrenched cultural practices like FGM requires resources. Kwara is a beautiful state, and we do not want it to be painted negatively outside as a hub of FGM. The time to act with funding and collaboration is now,” Mamah said.

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