UNFPA trains over 20 media practitioners on zero tolerance for FGM

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Nigeria, has trained over 20 media practitioners on zero tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day training/workshop for Media Practitioners on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM), held at Doven Hotel Lekki, between Monday and Tuesday, in Lagos.

The Acting Head of UNFPA Cross River Sub-Office, Dr Aliyu Yakubu, welcomed the participants, National Orientation Agency (NOA) and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to the workshop.

Yakubu commended the efforts of the journalists which he noted, cannot be over-emphasised on advocating for eradicating Female Genital Mutilation for the time being.

According to him, no perpetrators has ever been punished, because the policy are not rightly implemented.

Also speaking, the Head of Media/Communication, UNFPA, Haj. Kori Habib, appealed to the media practitioners to be well equipped with vital information that UNFPA entails for proper reportage.

Habib said that UNFPA believe in NAN for global coverage, because of their slogan of"talk to one, talk to all", saying their impact had been felt across the states and Nigeria at large, charged for continuity.

She admonished them to always share the information on different network such as: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Life, YouTube among others.

In the same vein, Mrs Uzoma Ayodeji, a Gender Female Genital Mutilation Analist, delivered lecture on "Presentation of Phase IV UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital in Nigeria".

Ayodeji said that the percentage of the mutilation has been drastically reduced in some areas, while more efforts still needs to intensify for the UNFPA still have a long way to go.

She urged for more contribution in other to achieve the goals of Sustainable Development Goals(SDG) of total eradication of Female Genital Mutilation.

Mr Karima Bungudu Gender FGM Analyst, said that Female Genital Mutilation is a way of removing cl$toris from girls private parts without medical treatment in which has caused a lot of damages to their lives.

Bungudu emphasised that cutting has allow tetanus, acute urinary, infertility, some wound would not heal, mental disorder and inability to enjoy sex in which are not right.

He charged all young boys, men, parent, religious leaders, NGOs, government parastatals, ministries traditional leaders, community leaders to rise up to fight against female general Mutilation.

He emphasised that a tree cannot make a forest, cooporation of the duo with other agencies, ministry, NGO, traditional rulers, local governments, community leaders, parents and circumcisers among others would go along way in elimination of FGM.

He called for the support of the journalists to contribute their own quota through adequate broadcasting against female genital Mutilation and ensure passing the message beyond so as to totally eradicated by 2030.

A Consultant from United Nations Population Fund (UNPA), Mrs. Aduke Obelawo, said that the future is bright and success has been promised on strengthened conviction, not on using force.

Obelawo asked media to preach to the people's conscience and centralised on the social norms.

In the same vein, Mrs Ayodeji Bello, an Activist from United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA), who spoke on Global Media Campaign intensified her effort on canvassing for eradication of Female Genital Mutilation to rural and urban areas.

Bello stressed that media has a vital role to play in global media campaign by helping to sensitised the populace against mutilation.

She said that media is a powerful tool both print and broadcasting in which people will hear form radio among other broadcasting.(NAN)