Kwara Government Holds Road Walk to Mark 2026 International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM
The Kwara State Government has intensified its campaign against female genital mutilation (FGM) and other forms of girl-child abuse with a road walk in Ilorin to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.
The awareness walk, organised by the Ministry of Social Development, was held in collaboration with the Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC) and supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The event brought together ministry officials, development partners, and non-governmental organisations to reinforce advocacy against harmful traditional practices.
Speaking during the exercise, the Commissioner for Social Development, Hajia Maryam Nnafatima Imam, described FGM as a serious violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence that must be eradicated. She noted that international and national legal instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Maputo Protocol, and Nigeria’s Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, clearly prohibit the practice.
The commissioner called for stronger enforcement of anti-FGM laws, improved child protection mechanisms, survivor-focused health and psychosocial support services, sustained community engagement, and greater support for grassroots advocacy. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that every girl grows up safe and free from violence.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of GLOHWOC, Dr. Christiana Abayomi-Oluwole, commended the state government for its leadership in protecting vulnerable groups. She stressed the need for effective enforcement of existing laws, deeper community awareness, and stronger partnerships to eliminate FGM.
Dr. Abayomi-Oluwole urged stakeholders to translate commitments into concrete actions by strengthening early-warning systems, expanding support services for survivors, and mobilising traditional, religious, and community leaders to challenge harmful cultural norms.
In her remarks, the Development Officer of Patigi Local Government, Fatimah Asabe Jiyah, praised Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for prioritising programmes that promote the well-being of the girl-child. She emphasised that protecting girls from all forms of abuse is essential for societal development.
The road walk served as a platform to raise public awareness, encourage behavioural change, and reaffirm the shared responsibility of government, partners, and communities in ending FGM across Kwara State.
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