By: Manoah Kikekon
Despite strict legal prohibitions, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains a significant health and human rights concern in various parts of Nigeria. The Wellspring Outreach and Support Foundation recently voiced its alarm, noting that the harmful tradition persists in several communities, including Oyo State, fueled by entrenched cultural myths and misinformation.
Speaking in Ibadan during a month-long social media advocacy campaign, Adelayo Ojo-Nkom, a director at the foundation, highlighted the brutal reality of the practice. FGM takes various forms ranging from the partial or total removal of the clitoris to the severe stitching of the vaginal opening.
The consequences are often lifelong. Mrs. Ojo-Nkom emphasized that survivors frequently face: Obstetric Complications: Increased risk of painful and dangerous childbirth.
Physical Trauma: Chronic pain and sexual dysfunction. Mental Health Struggles: Long-term psychological disorders, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Marital Strain: The practice often strips women of the ability to experience intimacy, turning marriage into a source of trauma rather than joy.
One of the primary drivers of FGM in Nigeria is the false belief that it controls a woman’s libido or prevents promiscuity. Mrs. Ojo-Nkom was firm in debunking these claims, stating they have no medical or moral basis. She noted that societal moral decline is entirely unrelated to whether a girl has undergone the procedure.
A troubling finding from the foundation’s advocacy is that even some young women continue to support the practice. Having been socialized to view it as a cultural "norm," they perpetuate the cycle, indicating that changing deep-seated social attitudes remains a formidable challenge for the country.
Nigeria’s Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act of 2015 explicitly criminalizes FGM. Under this law, anyone who performs, aids, or abets the procedure faces stiff penalties, including heavy fines and imprisonment.
"FGM is a criminal offense... anyone who performs, aids, or abets the act risks fines or imprisonment," Mrs. Ojo-Nkom warned.