In a renewed demonstration of its unwavering commitment to protecting the rights, dignity and well-being of women and girls, the Kwara State Government, through the Ministry of Social Development, on Monday, organised a road walk within Ilorin metropolis, to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The activity, held in collaboration with the Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC) and supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), brought together the management and staff of the Ministry, development partners and key Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to amplify awareness against harmful traditional practices and reinforce collective responsibility toward ending FGM.
Addressing participants, the Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Maryam Nnafatima Imam, PhD, described Female Genital Mutilation as a grave violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence that must be eliminated without compromise.
The Commissioner stressed that both international and national legal frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Maputo Protocol and Nigeria’s Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, explicitly prohibit FGM and mandate decisive action to safeguard girls.
Hajia Imam called for strengthened enforcement of anti-FGM laws, proactive child protection systems, survivor-centred health and psychosocial support services, sustained community engagement and increased support for grassroots advocacy initiatives to accelerate progress toward ending the practice, reiterating the State government’s firm stance that every girl deserves to grow up safe, whole and free from violence.
In her remarks, the Executive Director of the Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC), Dr. Christiana Abayomi-Oluwole, commended the State government for its proactive leadership in safeguarding vulnerable populations.
She noted that while laws prohibiting Female Genital Mutilation exist, stronger enforcement mechanisms, community-driven awareness and sustainable partnerships remain critical to achieving lasting change.
Dr. Abayomi-Oluwole urged stakeholders to move beyond commitments to concrete action by strengthening early-warning systems, expanding survivor support services and mobilising traditional, religious and community leaders to challenge harmful social norms that perpetuate the practice.
Also speaking, the Development Officer of Patigi Local Government, Fatimah Asabe Jiyah, commended the Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for consistently championing initiatives that promote the well-being of the girl child, she emphasized that programmes aimed at safeguarding girls are vital, adding that the girl child remains precious to the society and must be protected from all forms of harm.
The road walk served as a strategic advocacy platform to deepen public awareness, promote positive behavioural change and reinforce the shared responsibility of government, partners and communities in protecting the rights of girls across Kwara State.
Rasheedat Shodunnke,
Press Secretary,
MoSD
