GOVERNMENT OF IMO STATE,
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR.
-THANKS IMO FIRST LADY, BARR. UZODIMMA.
The Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru, PhD, has declared her public support for the campaign against Female Genital Mutilation, FGM in the state and elsewhere.
The Deputy Governor endorsed this campaign, Friday, during a public seminar on FGM, organised by the wife of the Mbaitoli Council boss and Chairperson, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Mrs Gertrude Nwanegwo, at the local government headquarters, Nwaorieubi.
She expressed her joy at the participants and the entire people of Mbaitoli, while delivering also, the Governor's appreciation to the people.
"I am always happy to be with you, as it gives me special joy, so, I will continue to pray to always have opportunities of this kind to be and interact with my own great and good people of Mbaitoli.
"The Governor of our dear state, my boss, Dist. Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, loves Ndi Mbaitoli so much and has asked me to extend his profound greetings to you all".
The Deputy also praised all the women and saluted their contributions to the society, as they are still relishing the breeze of International Women Day, while she delivered her speech.
"Tomorrow will make it a week, the world celebrated women and their achievements. Still in that mood of the celebration of International Women's Day, I acknowledge the strength, courage and resilience of every woman here, celebrate you and your efforts in family building and national development.
"We are gathered here today to discuss the practice, "Female Genital Mutilation, FGM", which hits the family directly and women especially.
"The world cannot celebrate a woman who practices, aid and abet female genital mutilation which is a violation of the rights of girls and women. An infringement on the rights of the girl child to health, security and personal integrity. A denial of her rights to be free from torture, cruelty, extreme discrimination and denial of the right to live when it leads to death.
"Let's therefore, be women and families worthy of celebration, by desisting from female genital mutilation and also, joining the fight against it.
"For clarity and better understanding, Female Genital Mutilation is the act of partial or complete removal, mostly at infancy, of the external parts of the genitalia of girls and women (ibi nwanyi ugwu) for no medical reason or benefit.
"This is an age long practice in our localities that inflicts untold pains on female infants, causes them severe bleeding, fever, diseases (eg. tetanus), difficulty in urination, tissue damage, inflammation around the genital area and deaths. Sadly, some health workers are also involved in the practice.
"Female children who escape death at the infant stage, grow to still face other health challenges occasioned by the crude and degrading practice - Female Genital Mutilation.
"They develop urinary track infections, painful menstruation, complications with child births, prone to caesarean section, develop poor sexual desire and satisfaction, depression, anxiety and so on.
"Many people practice female genital mutilation out of sheer ignorance, as they simply see it as a common cultural practice on the girl child, which is unfortunate.
"Some others hold that by doing it, they prepare the girl child for womanhood. This does not also hold water as God already prepares the girl child for the responsibilities she has to bear as a woman.
"Another notion that female genital mutilation prevents premarital sex, ensures quick conception following marriage and easy delivery is false, an erroneous belief and a misconception, therefore, should be disregarded.
"The WHO has warned against the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation and advised it is stopped forthwith, to avoid further damages to the female gender.
"According to a WHO report, more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone female genital mutilation in 30 countries in Africa, Middle East and Asia, where it is practiced.
"Also, that about 4 million girls are at risk of female genital mutilation annually. You can imagine the huge implications!
"WHO again asserted that treatment of complications of female genital mutilation is estimated to cost health systems $1.4 billion dollars annually, a huge sum expected to rise unless urgent action is taken, as we are doing today, to stop the cruel practice.
"My fellow women, ladies and gentlemen, we have to decide now, if we have not decided already, never to be involved or subject our female children to the devastating and life threatening unfortunate practice called Female Genital Mutilation", the Deputy Governor stated.
The Deputy Governor appreciated the wife of the Governor, the Imo First Lady, Barr (Dr). Chioma Uzodimma, for her unwavering commitment to ending Female Genital Mutilation, especially, in the state, without forgetting to thank also the wife of the Mbaitoli Local Government Chairman, the Mbaitoli Chairperson, Mrs. Gertrude Nwanegwo and her team for taking the campaign to the grassroots.
"At this juncture, may I express my immense appreciation to the Imo First Lady, Mama Imo, the caring mother-general, the vocal, strong and indefatigable advocate of 'end to Female Genital Mutilation', Barr (Dr). Chioma Uzodimma. Her aggressive and ideological public enlightenment campaign against female genital mutilation and for its abandonment is yielding the desired results.
"In the same vein, I wish to thank the Chairperson, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, the wife of the Chairman, Mrs Gertrude Lebechi Nwanegwo and her team, for taking a cue from the Imo First Lady, in organising this all important sensitisation seminar on Female Genital Mutilation, FGM and taking the campaign to the grassroots".
Concluding, the Deputy Governor expressed the willingness of the state government to support and partner with groups and individuals in the campaign to stop female genital mutilation.
"I submit by assuring individuals and organisations in the fight against female genital mutilation of government's support and partnership to end the ugly trend, reiterating that Female Genital Mutilation has no benefit but numerous dangers and health complications and as such, should never again, form part of our cultural or medical practice.
Dignitaries present at the event were; the husband of the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Chief (Barr) Chukwuma Ekomaru, SAN, the Chairman, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Hon. Ifunanya Nwanegwo, the Vice Chairman, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Hon (Mrs) Ijeoma Onyeji, the Honourable member representing Mbaitoli in the State House of Assembly, Hon. (Engr). Innocent Ikpamezie, the Apex Leader, Mbaitoli APC, Chief (Barr) Marcellinus Nlemigbo, Leader, Mbaitoli Legislative Council, Rt. Hon. Frank Onyeji, Honourable Commissioner representing South-East in the National Hajj Commission, Hajia Aishat Obi, Secretary to the Mbaitoli Local Government, Hon. Chibuzor Uwandu, Woman Leader, Mbaitoli APC, Lady Isabella Asinobi, Supervisory Councilor for Health, Mbaitoli LGA, Dr. Anthony Achugwo
Dr. Uzopuo Charles Nnamdi
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor.
March 14, 2025.
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