In a landmark ceremony that marks a significant cultural shift, Ajagba community in Oyo East Local Government Area of Oyo State has publicly abandoned the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Standing before community members and officials, the Alajagba of Ajagba, Oba Olusegun Ogunrinde formally received a certificate of public abandonment, signalling the community’s collective decision to protect the health and dignity of its girls and women.
The declaration represents more than a symbolic gesture, it is the culmination of months of structured dialogue, education, and consensus-building.
The campaign successfully shifted the community’s understanding of FGM from a cultural norm to a recognized health and human rights violation.
According to the World Health Organization, FGM involves procedures that partially or totally remove external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, leading to severe long-term health consequences.
The community’s declaration aligns with measurable progress across Oyo State.
According to the National Demographic and Health Survey, FGM prevalence in Oyo State has declined significantly, from 31.1% in 2018 to 18% between 2023 and 2024.
Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health Mr. Emmanuel Yelotan, noted that similar declarations are expected from five communities in each of seven local government areas.
The successful abandonment in Ajagba has demonstrated that harmful traditional practices can be addressed through respectful engagement with community structures rather than external imposition.
Mrs. Iyabo Akintayo from the Oyo State Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Inclusion emphasized the broader significance.
“We are safeguarding their health, dignity, and future”.
According to the Amirah of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria, FOMWAN, Dr. Lateefat Dairo, the association’s impact stemmed from empowering women at the community level.
“We trained advocates who speak the language of their homes, making the message for change trusted and effective,”.
As billboards now stand in Ajagba proclaiming FGM unacceptable and unlawful, the community serves as a beacon for similar transformations across Nigeria.
