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Group warns against female genital mutilation

 

By Daniel Ayantoye

A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Women and Youth Development Initiative (WOYODEV) has cautioned the public against female genital mutilation.

The group gave the warning in Ilorin on Tuesday during a courtesy call to the Corporate Office of National Pilot Newspaper.

Speaking on the purpose of the visit, a volunteer of the NGO, Michael Olagunju, said it is incongruous to see people engage in female genital mutilation despite the many lives that have been lost in the past through such act.

“You will agree with me that the practice is as old as man but we want to pass information to the public that female genital mutilation has no benefit. It only exposes the girl-child to bleeding, diseases such as HIV and sometimes leads to death.

“We believe there is an urgent need to eradicate this unfavourable practice in Kwara, Nigeria and Africa at large in order to avoid untimely death for our female children,” he said.

In his remarks, the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of National Pilot Newspaper, Alhaji Billy Adedamola stated that the medium is committed to promoting good health for the girl-child and women in the country.

Adedamola called for extensive campaign and collective efforts in eradicating female genital mutilation in the country and beyond.

He assured WOYODEV of unflinching support of the organisation in promoting the campaign against female genital mutilation.

In the same vein, the Editor of the medium, Christie Doyin, stated that the barbaric practice aside, the pain on victims is capable of affecting their kidney, result from difficulty in urinating. She added that many couples have separated as a result of female genital mutilation.

Similarly, the General Editor of the newspaper, Mrs Adejoke Adeniyi-Jackson urged the group not to relent and to ensure they reach out to those residing in remote communities of Ilorin and rural areas in Kwara State.

“With the elites, I don’t think it is a problem but you need to reach out to those residing in remote areas and the market women and men in order to abolish the practice,” she said.

 

 

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