The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has declared Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as a human rights violation without any health benefits, promising that the administration of her husband would end the menace.
Mrs. Tinubu, however, disclosed that by international projection, about 34 million Nigerian women and girls stood the risk of Female Genital Mutilation by 2030.
In a statement commemorating this yearโs International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the first lady quoted the UNFPA as saying Nigeria has the highest absolute number of FGM globally.
She said over 20 million women and girls had undergone FGM while about 14 million girls were still at risk of also experiencing this practice by 2030.
Corroborating the position of the first lady, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, reaffirmed the federal governmentโs commitment to eradicating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted the urgent need for action, noting that Nigeria accounted for 19.9 million women and girls affected by FGM, with a prevalence rate of 20% among women aged 15 to 49.
Her remarks came during a press briefing in Abuja to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.
At the same time, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has called for strengthening of collaborations to end female genital mutilation (FGM) in the country.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, made the call in his message on the Day of Zero Tolerance for the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The theme of this yearโs commemoration is โStepping Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGMโ, observed on the 6th of February every year.
However, describing FGM as a violation of human rights without health benefits, Mrs. Tinubu has canvassed both global and local support and partnership to end the inhuman practice.
She gave an assurance that the President Bola Tinubu-led government at the centre was committed to ending the health menace.
โAs we commemorate the 2025 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), with the theme, Stepping Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM, we are reminded of our shared responsibility to protect the rights and dignity of girls and women. (Thisday)