A CERTIFICATION CEREMONY IN OKPANKU COMMUNITY OF ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

On the 17th Day of November 2020, we organized a certification ceremony for our End FGM Champions in Okpanku community of Enugu State, Nigeria. This certification ceremony was organized by us with a kind support from A Seed of Change (Canada). This ceremony was targeted at both celebrating and recognizing our end FGM champions in the community.

This event started pretty much late at exactly 12pm due to some complications, which was beyond our control. We started off with an opening prayer and also some brief introductions. After this, we listened to an address by the community leader Igwe RA Chukwu. He spoke glowingly about the good works of SIRP at the community. He specially thanked us for the various activities, which we have undertaken at the community and said that the community was indebted to us. Furthermore, he encouraged all those who will be certified as our champions to see it as a call to service to God and humanity.

After this, we were also privileged to listen to Barrister Somtochukwu Ugwu who is the Gender Head/ Partnerships Officer at SIRP. In his remarks, he spoke extensively about the reasoning behind SIRP’s efforts at the community. He stated that this project became necessary as there were great negative effects occasioned by FGM at the community. These negative effects as he stated ranged from health challenges to educational and economic empowerment challenges. This has therefore necessitated this project. He went on further to tell everyone present that this project wouldn’t have been possible without the kind support of A Seed of Change (Canada). He thereafter encouraged everyone who will be recognized on that day to make good use of this opportunity.

After this, we were further privileged to listen to various remarks from a cross-section of participants at the event. Finally, we thereafter witnessed presentation of certificates to various participants at the event. These certificates were presented to over 30 persons who have participated in one way or the other throughout the project. At the end of this event, one can see that these certificates meant so much to these participants as they were all appreciative and beamed with smile. This event finally came to an end at exactly 2:30 pm with a vote of thanks and closing prayers said by one of the project beneficiaries.