NGO trains vanguards against female genital mutilation in Abuja

A non-governmental organisation, Novel Association for Youth Advocacy (NAYA), has trained over 100 youths in various secondary schools in Kuje as vanguards against female genital mutilation.

In a one-day media chat on FGM with students, the National Programme Coordinator, Mrs Afolabi Omolabake, explained that the advocacy campaign was aimed at raising a new generation of champions that would help disseminate information about the harmful effects of the practice at the grassroots.

She added that the campaign was aimed at building the capacity of students to become advocates and speak up against female genital mutilation and inform their peers on the health hazards of the practice.

“We are implementing projects in five secondary schools by building capacity of students to become advocates and speak up against female genital mutilation and this is because we believe that humans are the best agents of change,” she said.

The senior facilitator of the NGO, Dr. Vera Gabriel, noted that female genital mutilation persists due to socio-cultural influences and inability of government to enact laws to punish perpetrators.

Vera advocated for the implementation of the Family Life and HIV/AIDS Education Documents especially in the north, adding that it should be incorporated in schools’ curriculum to help inform students on its dangers.