UNFPA, NGOs Advocate Elimination of FGM Through Inter-School Oratory Competition

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), has advocated the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) through an End Female Genital Mutilation Inter-Secondary School Oratory Competition, organised for secondary school students within the Ibadan Metropolis, Oyo State.

The Oyo State-based NGOs, YouthHub Africa, the Oyo State Chapter of the Young Men’s Network Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (YMNASGBV), and Onelife Initiative, which provided implementation support for the event, had funding support from the UNFPA.

The Executive Director of Onelife Initiative, Sola Fagorusi, noted that at the final round of the Oratory Competition, aimed at creating awareness and raising adolescent gender champions to end FGM, Abadina College, University of Ibadan, came first after three rounds of competition among eight secondary schools.

Fagorusi said, “The oratory contest demonstrated the power of using oration to drive learning into health issues while growing soft skills and also unveil a new corps of advocates to end a harmful tradition like FGM. We are happy at the growth of the students in the last 3 meetings with them during the competition and thank their teachers who coached them.”

He disclosed that the preliminary round of the competition, held at the Oba Akinbiyi Model College, Mokola, Ibadan, had the participation of 16 contestants from eight secondary schools, including Abadina College, University of Ibadan; Bashorun High School, Bode Wasimi; Methodist Secondary School, Favos, New-Bodija; and Oba Akinbiyi Model College.

Others are: St. Gabriel’s Secondary Commercial Grammar School, Sabo; St. Patrick’s Grammar School Orita Bashorun; Oke’Badan High School, Oluyoro; and Queen of Apostles Secondary Commercial Grammar School, Oluyoro, all in the Ibadan North and Ibadan North-East Local Government Areas of the state.

Fagorusi revealed that the contestants delivered speeches on topics focused on various issues surrounding FGM, including: Female Genital Mutilation Violates the Rights of the Girl Child in Nigeria; Challenging the Myths and Misconceptions that Promote the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria; Schools also have a Role in Ending Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria; and Survivors of Female Genital Mutilation are Well Positioned to Campaign towards Ending FGM, amongst others.

He noted that, “The second round was likewise held at St. Patrick’s Grammar School, Orita Bashorun, Ibadan, where the school came third, while Abadina College, University of Ibadan and Bashorun High School, Bode Wasimi, proceeded to the final round of the competition held at Oke’Badan High School, Oluyoro, Ibadan.”

In the final round, while Djebi-Mark Mosinmiloluwa-Kwami, lead speaker, and Salaudeen Motunrayo, supporting speaker, from Abadina College, who spoke on ‘Female Genital Mutilation: An Act of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence to Girls and Women, came first, Olawumi Oluwapelumi, lead speaker, and Ogbu Favour, supporting speaker, from Bashorun High School, who spoke on The Role of the Media in Creating the Awareness for the End of Female Genital Mutilation, came second.

Speaking, the Executive Director of YouthHub Africa, Rotimi Olawale, noted that the event was borne out of the need to reach out to young people early so that the next generation of adults will not have worries about FGM.

The three-phase event had over 500 students and teachers involved, with the Oyo State Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology represented by the Deputy Director, Senior Secondary Education Department, Mr Bolaji Obatowon, present.

Others present are the state Reproductive Health Officer and FGM Coordinator, Oyo State Primary Health Care Board and representative of the State Technical Committee, Mrs Bilikisu Olawoyin; and the representative of the Oyo State Chapter of the Child Protection Network (CPN), Dr Rosemary Odigbo.

The winning schools went away with cash prizes of N50,000, N30,000 and N20,000 respectively for the first, second and third places.