Take action to stop female genital mutilation – Media, other group duties

In Ekiti State, a civil society organization has charged the public and media with stepping up efforts to end female genital mutilation.

The group stressed the importance of working together to combat the threat as it attempted to involve media personnel in the fight against the practice.

Oluwanifemi Helen Ayeni, the state coordinator for the Hacey Health Initiative, stated that “the media has an important role to play if Nigeria wants to eradicate the practice” at a media interaction with journalists in Ado-Ekiti.

She pointed out that the media has the power to change people’s behaviors for the better by disseminating relevant information to the public.

“We organized the media dialogue, bringing together media professionals to feed us on how we could partner better, and through the interaction, we got how we can leverage the press conference and focus attention on organizations that have Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) with structures in place that are already carrying out activities,” the statement reads.

Tolulope Ayotunde Ogunniyi, the Desk Officer for Female Genital Mutilation at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, also urged the general populace to take it upon themselves to guarantee that no girl or woman is cut.