Oyo determined to eradicate FGM by 2030 – Commissioner 

The Oyo state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun, Thursday, said the state government is determined to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation between 2025 and 2030.

She said this Wednesday while speaking at the inauguration of a steering committee and technical working group for the effective and sustainable management of gender-related issues in Oyo state.

Mrs Balogun stated that the fight against female genital mutilation and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence is not an isolated struggle, adding that they go hand- in- hand with the need for economic empowerment and rehabilitation of women and girls.

She  stated that the fight is also part of a broader agenda to ensure equal access to economic opportunities for both genders, human rights protection and social inclusion as well as build a society where gender-related issues are effectively and sustainably managed with collaborative efforts of relevant stakeholders.

The commissioner said the committees are to foster effective and sustainable collaboration across all areas and are also to develop within three months of inauguration a strategic, comprehensive and result-driven roadmap for the implementation of the Oyo State Action Plan for the Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation between 2025 and 2030.

Mrs Balogun  added that the committee is mandated to foster cross-sectoral policies to drive sustainable solutions, create a collaborative platform to address all forms of gender inequalities and related challenges, engage in community mobilisation and advocacy, access to laws and recommend improvement for protection of women and girls, as well as collection of data, monitoring and evaluation to track the effectiveness of various interventions.

The commissioner urged all the stakeholders to work collaboratively towards creating economic stability, safer spaces for women and ending of harmful cultural practices.

Oyo state Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni in her goodwill message said eliminating the menace requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses education, community action, effective policies, support for survivors and global initiatives.