Abalkaliki – The Traditional Rulers of Izzi clan in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi have resolved to end the prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practice in the state.
The Chief Custodian, Mr Nkwuda Nshii of Amegu Autonomous Community and his counterparts, made this known during a Public Declaration of Abandonment of FGM in Izzi clan.
The Izzi clan in Amegu, Abakaliki, on Wednesday agreed to banish some traditional laws which have been encouraging FGM practice in the area.
They noted that other areas with high FGM prevalence include Ohaukwu, Afikpo North and Ohaozara local governments.
The custodians of Izzi culture said that they took the decision based on enlightenment they received on the health implications of the practice on women and girls.
The traditional rulers in partnership with Family Succour and Upliftment Foundation, a pet project of the governor’s wife, Mrs Racheal Umahi, were targeting similar declaration to end the act in the entire state.
They stated that the rite been an aged long practice in Izzi land had caused much health hazards on girls and women, urging the people to stop the practice henceforth.
“We, the Ishiukes have publicly declared that nobody or law in Izzi clan will indict any one for not performing the practice as a rite of passage to womanhood.
“Henceforth, church wedding stands as the only rite of passage to womanhood for Christians while those who believe in culture and tradition are free to perform every other aspect of rite of passage, if they wish but not to mutilate.
“Therefore, it stands that we have today expunged and outlawed the practice of FGM from the culture of Izzi clan and mandated traditional rulers to publicise it in their individual domains,” they declared.
Mrs Umahi said that the decision of the traditional rulers had convinced her over their total support in her campaign to end the practice in the state.
“Family Succour and Upliftment Foundation is seriously working with other clans and local governments to make and implement similar declarations to end FGM.
“We are targeting similar programme for Ohaukwu, Afikpo North and Ohaozara council areas where the prevalence is high.
“I thank the Ishiukes, traditional rulers and the leadership of town unions of Izzi land for their support to end the trend,” she said.
She commended the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other agencies which are collaborating with her project in facilitating the campaign against FGM and other harmful practices.
The Chief Medical Director, National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Dr Sunday Adeoye, said that there is no single benefit in the practice irrespective of the belief attached to it.
On their part, Director of the foundation, Mr Chukwuma Elom, representative of UNICEF, Mr Amose Kudzala, and representative of USAID, Mr Iyeme Efem, pledged to ensure that the menace is completely eradicated.
They urged the wife of the governor not to relent in her effort in combating the practice which had spoken volume of her.
“This is impressive to see the traditional rulers on their feet to ensure the eradication of the practice,’’ they said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured presentation of N165 million cheque for sustenance and empowerment of repaired Vasico Virgina Fistula (VVF) patients.
