No excuses, no traditions to hide behind — Nigeria’s governors’ spouses say the time to end FGM is now.
The Nigeria Governors’ Spouses’ Forum (NGSF) has renewed its push for the total eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), describing the practice as a clear violation of human rights and a serious public health and development threat.
In a statement marking the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, the forum’s chairperson and Kwara First Lady, Amb. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, said thousands of Nigerian girls and women are already living with lifelong physical and emotional scars, while many more remain at risk.
She stressed that FGM permanently damages girls’ health, dignity and future, warning that it is not culture but violence. Ending it, she said, would lead to safer pregnancies, fewer maternal and newborn complications, and better education and economic outcomes for women.
AbdulRazaq called on governments, traditional and religious leaders, parents, health workers and community gatekeepers to move beyond awareness to real accountability and action. She urged stronger law enforcement, increased funding, survivor-focused health and legal support, and community-led prevention efforts.
“Protecting girls builds stronger families and healthier societies,” she said, adding that no girl should suffer harm in the name of culture.
The forum urged Nigerians to act with urgency and collective resolve to become the generation that finally ends FGM — under the campaign #Invest2EndFGM.
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