Female genital mutilation has long cast a shadow over the lives of many girls, upheld in the name of tradition and culture. Passed quietly from one generation to the next, it is a practice that leaves scars far beyond what the eyes can see. It is against this backdrop that Imo communities are taking a stand against FGM. 

Communities across Oru East, Oru West, Nwangele, and Nkwerre Local Government Areas have pledged to abandon FGM by 2030, marking a decisive moment in the state’s battle against the harmful practice.

The commitment was sealed during a week of grassroots dialogues jointly organised by the Virgin Heart Foundation, the United Nations Population Fund, and UNICEF. The conversations were hosted in council halls and palaces of traditional rulers, drawing in monarchs, community leaders, women and youth groups, religious figures, adolescent champions, and male allies. Each gathering carried the same message: FGM has no place in the future of Imo’s daughters.

Peace Dike, Executive Director of the Virgin Heart Foundation, commended the communities for taking a stand. “This collective effort will be instrumental in achieving our shared goal of a completely FGM-free Imo State by 2030,” she said. 

Traditional leaders echoed her resolve. Eze Stanley of Ofekata III denounced the physical and social harms of the practice, vowing to use his influence to drive change. “The change will start from the grassroots, and it is a joint community effort,” he reminded participants.

Experts from Ebonyi State gave detailed accounts of the dangers: vesicovaginal fistula, chronic infections, excessive bleeding, childbirth complications, and keloid growths, all tied to FGM. They emphasised that beyond the immediate physical risks, the practice fuels cycles of gender-based violence and psychological trauma that last for years.

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Personal stories lent weight to the campaign. Chief Obinogwam Solomon of Ubahaeze Orodo shared how his community had already made a public declaration to abandon FGM, stressing that progress only came when every voice mattered. “Achieving PDA is not one person’s job. It involves the collaborative efforts of everyone in the community,” he said.

Government representatives also signalled their support. Francis Ihem of the National Orientation Agency assured that the state would continue backing initiatives at the grassroots, underscoring that laws alone cannot end FGM without cultural change.

Although Nigeria outlawed the practice in 2015 under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, data from UNICEF still ranks the country among the highest in prevalence worldwide, with rural communities most affected. This is why public pledges like those from Imo are both symbolic and urgently practical. They align with the global goal to eradicate FGM by 2030 while also demanding community-driven follow-through through education, awareness campaigns, and cultural shifts.

For many in Imo, the vow is more than a policy statement; it is a turning point. It represents an effort to protect the health and dignity of young girls and to dismantle one of the most persistent harmful practices still weighing down communities.

The voices from these four LGAs are sending a powerful signal: tradition cannot be an excuse for harm, and the future must belong to girls who are free, safe, and whole.

Meiza Nigeria