FG Committed to Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)- Sulaiman- Ibrahim
… Says FGM is a public health crisis
Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.
Speaking at a joint ministerial press briefing, Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized that FGM is a fundamental breach of human dignity, a direct assault on the health and well-being of women and girls, and a significant impediment to sustainable development. She noted that Nigeria remains among the countries with the highest burden of FGM globally, with 19.9 million women and girls affected.
The Minister outlined the government’s multi-sectoral strategy to eliminate FGM, including strengthening legal frameworks, scaling up community interventions, and driving behavioral and cultural change. She also announced plans for an advocacy walk to the National Assembly and an advocacy visit to Jigawa State, one of Nigeria’s FGM flash-points.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed that the fight against FGM is a collective responsibility, requiring the involvement of governments, civil society organizations, traditional and religious institutions, the private sector, the media, and young people. She pledged to work closely with stakeholders to strengthen coordination and response mechanisms against FGM.
The Minister’s statement was made on the heels of Nigeria’s renewed commitment to ending FGM under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As the country marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s statement serves as a call to action for all stakeholders to unite in the fight against this harmful practice.
