Residents of the Akinlalu community in Osun State have made a public commitment to stop the practice of female genital mutilation and to report any offenders to the authorities.
This announcement was made during a community event organized by Action Health Incorporated, a non-profit organization, with support from the United Nations Population Fund.
A statement from Fatima Idris, the Programme Officer of AHI, was released in Osogbo on Friday, indicating that the event gathered residents and key community stakeholders.
Fatima Idris praised the community for what she called a unanimous decision to discontinue the practice.
She mentioned, “The organization has concentrated on engaging traditional leaders, religious figures, and community members to secure widespread support.”
Mary Bifarin, the founder of Mary Care Foundation, also spoke, noting that community-based organizations collaborated closely with AHI to rally residents against FGM.
“While we were here, we made sure that the monarch, his chiefs, and both Muslim and Christian leaders, along with the entire community, were involved in the effort to end FGM,” Bifarin stated.
She emphasized that the public declaration was intended to inform a broader audience about the community’s stance on the matter.
At the event, the Alakinlalu of Akinlalu, Oba Israel Oluwabusola, expressed that the community had come to a collective agreement to cease the practice.
“As the monarch of this town, I have spoken to my people, and we have all agreed to put an end to the practice of FGM in this community,” the Alakinlalu affirmed. He also mentioned that the community would work with relevant authorities to implement this decision.