Youth Activists in Oyo State, Nigeria are currently driving the campaign to end FGM, GBV, VAWC and Child Marriage in their communities through Documentation and Reporting of Stories, Household sensitization and Reflective Dialogues, Policy Advocacy to parliamentarians, Academia, Community and Religious Leaders.
The 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) revealed that the National prevalence of FGM among women age 15-49 was 20%, while it was 31.1% in Oyo. Similarly, the National FGM Prevalence amongst 0-14years was 19.2%, while it was 8.2% in Oyo state. According to preliminary findings from the baseline Situation Assessment on FGM Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) study, which was conducted prior to the start of the UNIFPA/UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of FGM in Oyo State in 2015, Kajola LGA had a 98% prevalence of FGM, while Ibarapa North had an 89.3% prevalence among women aged 15-49 years. Since 2018, there has been concerted efforts by government and development partners towards the elimination of FGM in Ibarapa North, Ibarapa East and Kajola LGAs. Additionally, Oyo State government has domesticated the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law in 2020, and 2 other laws that previously existed in the state, but unfortunately there has been low reportage and zero prosecution. Despite concerted efforts to end FGM, the practice still persists and will need to be accelerated in order to meet the zero target by 2030.
In order to meet this target, UNICEF Nigeria is supporting Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria, a youth-led civil society organization in Oyo State, Nigeria to engage 2,100 Youths in 6 communities in 3 LGAs (Ibarapa North, Ibarapa East and Kajola) become agents of change through advocacy and reporting for the elimination of FGM, GBV, Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) and other harmful practices in the state.
Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria (TBI) kicked off activities with advocacy visit and Mapping of the 6 target communities – Eruwa & Lanlate (Ibarapa East), Ayete and Igangan (Ibarapa North) and Gbonje and Ilero (Kajola) LGAs in other to identify community based youth groups and other natural groups to identify the 10 Youth Activists!
The 10 selected youth activist (6 Females & 4 Males) were engaged in 3-Day intensive training workshop to build their capacity and knowledge on policy advocacy and reporting on the elimination of FGM, child marriage, GBV, VAWC and other harmful practices – documentation and collection of information on FGM between Thursday 31st January – 2nd February, 2023.
“This is the right opportunity and privilege to make the desired change in our community and generation. We have been advocating for change, now we have a bigger platform and a better leverage. Our women deserves better. FGM, GBV, VAWC & CM is noy the answer!”- Abdulsalam Abdulquadri Olusegun, Chairman – National Youth Council of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter (#EndFGM Youth Activist)
In order to further strengthen the capacity of the 10 Youth Activists and boost their knowledge, we further conducted a 1-day training of Youth Activists to Support the documentation and collection of information on FGM, child marriage, GBV, VAWC and other harmful practices by Youth Activists (writing stories, monitoring events and actions using creative formats).
As part of our community entry and project sustainability strategies, the Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria and Youth Activists conducted a 1-day advocacy dialogue / orientation meeting with influential (traditional, religious, legislators, influencers, etc.) leaders to get their buy-in and support for the implementation of the programme. A total of 192 religious and traditional leaders, local authorities and other decision-makers were reached and they agreed to create an enabling environment for the elimination of these harmful practices.
There is need to protect our girls because of their future. FGM is done in our community because of the believe that girls will be promiscuous if they are not mutilated and it is evident that FGM has failed to protect any girl from being promiscuous rather, it harming them and putting them in serious danger.- HRH Oba Wasiu Saka Olokolonigi II, Alero of Ilero
The Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria’s team and her Youth Activists conducted 1-day Orientation meetings with the executives (2 each) of the CBOs (youth & women) to create awareness on Movement for Good to end FGM, community surveillance on FGM, advocacy and reporting on elimination of FGM, child marriage, GBV and VAWC and developed an Action plan. A total of 72 persons (12 persons per community from CBOs (youth & women) from the 6 intervention communities) were engaged. These CBOs and Youth Activists are presently combining efforts to conduct Community outreach meetings to sensitize the members of groups in their community such as schools, markets, worship centres, health facilities, local events, as well as facilitating reflective dialogues on ending FGM, child marriage, GBV and VAWC and other harmful practices that affect girls and women at the regular meeting of natural community groups (social, religious, business, cultural, etc.) and promote M4Good.
So far, the Youth Activists and CBOs combined efforts has yielded the following results
- 3,523 people have been reached through community outreaches and reflective dialogues to end FGM other harmful practices have also pledged to act to end FGM and enrolled on the M4G Website
- 11,491 people have been reached through social media engagements the 10 Youth activists have enrolled 288 Youths as Activists on the U-Report Platform.
The Youth Activists/CBOs are still advocating for the elimination of FGM, and would engage with policy makers and legislators after the general elections in March 2023. We are the generation to EndFGM. Join us via www.act2endfgm.com/rtbi.
