Ekiti local nurses renounce  female circumcision

From Victor Akinkuolie,  Ado-Ekiti
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Realising the danger posed to female children by the practise of circumcision, local nurses in Ekiti State have disengaged from the practice, vowing not to return to it.

The local nurses made the declaration at an event where they surrendered their instruments.

The event which was organized  by the wife of the Governor of the state, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, was part of the women empowerment and advocacy programmes across the sixteen local government areas of the state.

The wife of the Governor also made them to sign an agreement with the Government of Ekiti State not to engage in the practice again.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Fayemi, commended the people for renouncing the practice and presented them with cash gifts to establish  legitimate businesses as means of livelihood.

“If you continue to refrain from the practice, the state government will give you more empowerment. The practice is obsolete and I want you to refrain from it.

There are many others who are not here among you, go and talk to them as well, so that they will drop the act”.

 The Ekiti First Lady  promised that the present administration in the state will not relent in its efforts at waging war against rape,  Female Genital Mutilation(FGM),  child slavery and open defecation that have constituted national shame to the state.

 Mrs Fayemi revealed  that Ekiti was ranked first in open defecation and third  in female genital mutilation practices  in Nigeria , promising that local  FGN practitioners, who are ready to surrender their instruments will be empowered by the state government.

At the event which was attended by politicians as well as market women and groups, items which include cash, grinding machines, sowing machines, dryers, cooking gas, coolers and raw foods were distributed to the people.

The First Lady said she embarked on the tour  to engage the communities on their problems  and to  make advocacy  on the need  to stop the menace  of female  genital mutilation, open defecation, domestic violence against women, child trafficking and rape, that have become rampant in the society .

Mrs Fayemi said it was shameful for Ekiti to be  leading in female genital mutilation and open defecation in the country, saying such odious practices must stop .

She said that as part of her contributions to what Governor Fayemi will do about Social security for the elderly,  she has  added another programme called  food for the elderly (Ounje Arugbo) and that a total of 1,000 elderswill benefit monthly.