The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed that Imo State ranks highest in female genital mutilation (FGM) prevalence across the South-East region.
According to UNICEF, 38% of women aged 15-49 in the state have undergone FGM, while 9.7% of girls aged 0-14 have also been subjected to the practice.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, made this disclosure on Wednesday during a zonal media dialogue with journalists, media executives, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to mark the 2025 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
The event, themed “Stepping Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM,” highlighted the alarming prevalence rates in other South-East states. Ebonyi recorded a 20.4% prevalence rate among women aged 15-49, followed by Abia (20.3%), Enugu (19%), and Anambra (13.1%). Among girls aged 0-14, the prevalence rates stood at 3.7% in Enugu, 3.0% in Abia, 2.1% in Anambra, and 0.2% in Ebonyi.
Chiluwe noted that while the decline in prevalence rates among women aged 15-49 is encouraging compared to previous Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS), urgent action is still needed. She emphasized the importance of strengthening alliances among grassroots activists, communities, governments, organizations, and the private sector to eliminate the harmful practice.
“FGM is a violation of fundamental human rights, including the right to health, life, and freedom from torture. It leads to severe physical, psychological, and social consequences, affecting victims throughout their lives—from childhood to old age,” Chiluwe stated.
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Describing FGM as a form of gender-based violence, she condemned it as a harmful cultural practice designed to suppress female sexuality and reinforce control over women’s bodies.
Since 2015, the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM has collaborated with state ministries of women affairs, health, and justice, as well as child protection networks, the National Orientation Agency, and CSOs. Their efforts, supported by law enforcement, traditional and religious leaders, survivors, and advocacy groups, have been crucial in driving behavioral change across communities.
“We have strong policies and legal frameworks, including the Child Rights Act and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, to protect women and girls in the South-East,” Chiluwe added.
She further highlighted significant progress, such as public declarations renouncing FGM, improved support services for survivors, and increased awareness across communities.
Despite these achievements, UNICEF and its partners continue to call for intensified efforts to eliminate FGM and safeguard the rights of women and girls across Nigeria.
