The Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti has called on Traditional Rulers, Stakeholders, and Non-Governmental Organizations to join in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation in the state.
Mrs. Otti who made the call at the Obingwa Local Government Area secretariat Ngboko, during the International day on Zero tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation with the Theme: “STEP UP THE PACE”: Strengthening Alliance and building Movement to end Female Genital Mutilation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, ministry of Basic and Tertiary Education and the Abia state Orientation Agency, described it as a barbaric act that leads a Girl child and a woman to untimely death.
The Wife of the Governor, represented by the Commissioner Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Maureen Aghukwa urged all hands to be on deck to work together to eradicate this harmful practice and ensure that every Girl and woman live a life free from violence and discrimination.
Mrs. Otti further said she is committed to support efforts from organisations and individuals in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation to restore the Girl child and women fundamental human rights.
She however extolled the leadership of Governor Alex Otti for his commitments to ending Female Genital Mutilations in the state, and his efforts to change the harmful cultural practices against the lives of girls and women, as well as to prevent future cases of the practice in the State.
In her speech, the DG, Abia State Orientation Agency, Ms. Ure Abazie, appreciated the wife of the Governor for her commitment in the fight against gender based violence, and for her efforts to make Abia a zero tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
Speaking, the Director of Public Health in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Mrs. princess Agomoh who frowned at various forms of Female Genital Mutilation, which she said affects women’s good health as well as causes Pelvic Inflammatory Diseases amongst others, encouraged women to say no to the barbaric act.
Also speaking, the Mayor of Obingwa Local Government Area, Mr. Maxwell Nwadike, appreciated the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti and his wife Mrs. Priscilla, for the initiatives and promised to support the awareness campaign.
In their contributions, Mrs. Chidinma Alozie and Mrs. Onwubiko enjoined the parents to always align with their girl child’s emotional feelings as well as train them in love and fear of God.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Obingwa Traditional Ruler, Eze Adolphus Abakwue represented by Eze Chinyere Emmanuel, thanked the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Otti for her kind hearted programmes to restore women’s rights in the state and prayed God to bless her.
Our Government House Correspondent reports that the event which featured interactive sections, question and answers also attracted the presence of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Bekky Oguama, Traditional Rulers of Obingwa Local Government Area among other Government functionaries
