Imo State First Lady leads campaign against female genital mutilation
Imo State First Lady Nneoma Nkechi Rochas Okorocha has mobilized women and other relevant stakeholders to move against Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting.
Nneoma Okorocha who spoke in Owerri during a programme her office organized against Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting under her pet project Women of Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI)in conjunction with United Nations Population Fund, expressed her determination to ensure an end to the ugly and harmful practice.
She explain that the Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting is a practice that has done more harm than good to the girl child, as it has caused them untold pains, deceased and destroyed many lives.
The governor`s wife who noted that the practice was as a result of ignorance in the past called for its total eradication in the interest of womanhood.
Observers and participants at the meeting scored Imo State First Lady high, as she heavily mobilized the girls, women and other relevant stakeholders and lead them to passionately appeal to the governor for executive, legislative and judicial intervention.
In her speech Beatrice Munetai the country representatives of United Nations Population Fund noted that the practice was recognized due to ignorance. She called for a collaborative effort to educated and sensitize the people on the need for total eradication of Female genital Mutilation and Cutting, stating that it is badly affecting the health of the girl child and mothers.
She stressed the need to change the tradition and eradicate the practice so that women will stop the continuous suffering and impending danger associated with the harmful and practice.
The Country Representative of United Nations Population Fund said she was encouraged how Imo State threw her weight towards eradication of Female Genitile Mutilation and described it as a great work.
Responding; the governor of Imo State Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha promised to totally support the first lady in the battle against female genital mutilation and cutting, saying the protest of the first lady must be given urgent attention and he will do everything possible to facilitate her executive bill against Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting.
The governor who frowned against the painful practice and culture urged those with cultural attachment to it to discard such believe so as to save lives of the children ` He said `my support is because of the challenge and painful childbirth it posed to our daughters.
