By CHARLES IWUOHA

Two Ebonyi State local government areas, namely Ivo and Ishielu, have fixed dates to announce publicly the end of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

Ivo, which has five communities chose September 31, while Ishielu, which has 15 communities, fixed October 24, 2020, respectively for the declarations.

The two LGAs during consensus meetings with key stakeholders for FGM abandonment held at Ascension Church Hall Ntezi, Ishielu LGA and Isiaka, headquarters of Ivo Local Government Council on 22nd and 24th, September shared their experiences in convincing their people, saying that they were optimistic that FGM abandonment will be realistic.

Sharing their experiences, the people pointed out ignorance and low self esteem to be one of the major factors that lure people into FGM practice.

Mr Okechukwu Ali from Nkaleha in Ishielu Local Government Area noted that ending FGM practices is realisable as they have been able to convince their people to put end to it.

He said: “It was not an easy thing to convince them, while speaking with the people, l noticed that ignorance, low self esteem factored into these practices. And this has also made many people to deny themselves of help that could have come their way.”

Also, Mr Theophilus Nwafor, said: “The problem we are having is that those in the village agreed that FGM practice is real, but about 60% of child bearing women in our place leaves outside the village.

“We want you people to organise sensitisation programme in December period for our people, when they normally comes home.”

However, the Director of National Orientation Agency, NOA, Ebonyi State, Dr Emmanuel Abah, addressing the people told them the need for community enforcement mechanism.

He noted that with the support of United Nations Children's fund, UNICEF to end FGM practices in the communities, adding that they have been able to engage critical stakeholders on FGM abandonment, training of FGM community champions, sensitisation of women during the annual women’s August meeting.