The Wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has provided cash support to five survivors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and called on the Federal Government to strengthen measures to permanently eradicate the harmful practice nationwide.
Mrs. Otti made the remarks on Friday in Umuahia, the state capital, during a program marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM. She described FGM as a severe violation of the fundamental rights of girls and women.
“Female genital mutilation has no medical benefit. It causes extreme pain, trauma, infections, complications during childbirth, and lifelong psychological damage,” she said. “It does not make childbirth safer, nor is it prescribed by any religion. Culture is meant to protect life and dignity. Any practice that harms girls and violates their bodily autonomy is not culture; it is violence.”
Highlighting Abia State’s commitment, Mrs. Otti noted that the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act has been fully domesticated, making FGM a criminal offence under state law.
“The law is clear in Abia State. Female genital mutilation is a criminal offence,” she said. However, she stressed that legislation alone is not enough to eliminate the practice, calling for effective enforcement, public education, reporting mechanisms, and advocacy.
Mrs. Otti also urged traditional rulers, faith-based organizations, and other stakeholders to lead sustained efforts to end FGM through consistent investment, awareness campaigns, and community engagement.
Speaking at the event, Abia State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, described FGM as a harmful practice that inflicts deep emotional trauma and can, in some cases, result in death. Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs. Chinenye Nwaka, she noted that millions of girls remain at risk despite global and national interventions.
Dr. Aghukwa reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to safeguarding girls’ rights and achieving complete eradication of FGM in Abia State by 2030.
Other speakers, including Mrs. Onyinyechi Nwosu of the Child Protection Network, Naomi Chinyere of Caritas Nigeria, Barrister Chidimma Alozie of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and guest lecturer Dr. Ngozi Okechukwu, echoed that legislation alone cannot end FGM. They called for intensified awareness campaigns, community education, and long-term investments to eliminate the practice.
