The prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has significantly dropped by 90%, according to cultural analyst and stakeholder, Professor Anthony Ugwu.
Speaking exclusively to The Trumpet on Wednesday, Professor Ugwu, a retired Deputy Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), credited the remarkable reduction to sustained government intervention and policy implementation.
Despite the progress, Ugwu highlighted that poor network systems and inadequate awareness in rural communities remain significant barriers to the complete eradication of the practice. He explained that FGM had been deeply rooted in tradition for centuries, making it difficult to eliminate entirely.
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Commending the efforts of USAID, UNICEF, and both state and federal governments, he acknowledged their critical role in tackling FGM in Abakaliki. He, however, urged authorities to intensify awareness campaigns and deploy more qualified personnel to remote areas to achieve total eradication.
“Before now, circumcision was seen as a cultural norm, widely accepted and practiced. However, over the last 20 to 25 years, cases have been on the decline. As a cultural analyst, I can confidently say that we are witnessing a significant drop,” Ugwu stated.
Dismissing claims that FGM is on the rise in Abakaliki, he insisted that the real challenge lies in secrecy within rural communities. He emphasized that female genital mutilation remains a serious public health issue and called for enhanced orientation programs to fully eliminate the practice.
