AN END FGM PROJECT IN OKPANKU COMMUNITY OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

 

In June 2020, SIRP in Okpanku Community of Enugu State, Nigeria organized a knowledge sharing session on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) for 7 participants. These 7 participants comprised of both the Traditional Ruler of Okpanku and members of his cabinet. The whole basis for this session was to increase their knowledge about FGM and to also gain their support in ending it in the community.

This program kicked off with an opening prayer and introductions facilitated by Mrs Nnedi. After this, there was a brief opening remark from Dr. Chris Ugwu, the Executive Director of SIRP, Nigeria. He first of all thanked A Seed of Change (Canada) for supporting this program. Thereafter, he thanked all the participants for making out time to attend this training.

We thereafter went on an assessment of the current status of FGM in the community. This is most especially with regards to its prevalence rates. We thereafter went on to give participants a general overview of FGM. This overview included topics on why FGM was still practiced in the community. Furthermore, we discussed on its demerits for not just women and girls, but to the community as well.

After this training, we thereafter entertained comments from a host of participants. First to speak was Igwe RA Chukwu (The traditional ruler of Okpanku). He said that this training is indeed an eye-opener for them as they have learnt things, which they did not know about before. He went on further to assure us of his commitment to pass bye-laws to see that this practice is ended in the community. Elechi Christopher on his own part stated that he was mostly impressed with the strategy we used. This he said was very good as it allowed everyone to air their opinions and thoughts about FGM. He further assured us of his own commitment to ensuring an end to FGM in the community.

After this series of comments, the participants were later split into 3 groups under gender, health and education. This was done for them to properly discuss on the way forward for this project. After these deliberations, they thereafter made group presentations.

Finally, the workshop came to an end with a closing remark by Dr. Chris Ugwu thanking everyone for coming and specially thanking A Seed of Change (Canada) for supporting this program.