In a renewed push to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and Violence Against Children (VAC), the Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria (TBI), in collaboration with the Oyo State Government, with support from UNICEF Nigeria, has rolled out new interventions aimed at protecting women and children, while empowering former practitioners of harmful traditional practices through vocational training.
This was the focus of a one-day Law and Policy Advocacy Meeting held at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion Conference Hall, Secretariat, Ibadan, on Tuesday, 26th August 2025. The meeting brought together law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judiciary officials, civil society actors, and community stakeholders to deliberate on strategies to strengthen the justice system and end harmful practices.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Hon. (Mrs.) Toyin Balogun, underscored the urgent need for timely access to justice and stronger enforcement of existing laws. She noted that part of government’s intervention includes providing vocational training and sustainable empowerment packages for traditional circumcisers, popularly called Olola, to discourage them from returning to the practice.
“We cannot build something on nothing. Many of these practitioners inherited the act from their parents and have relied on it for livelihood. Without sustainable alternatives, they may be tempted to return. That is why empowerment after training is crucial,” she said.
The Commissioner also emphasized that boys, as well as girls, are vulnerable to abuse and must be included in interventions. She reaffirmed Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment to building stronger institutional frameworks that prioritize survivor-centered legal aid and ensure that the justice system is both compassionate and efficient.
UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Mr. Denis Onoise, described FGM as gender-based violence rooted in harmful cultural norms and reiterated UNICEF’s zero-tolerance stance.
“We don’t want any child to be cut. The law is clear: nobody should be cut. If anyone continues this practice, the VAPP Law must take its course. Together, we must end FGM by 2030,” he stated.
The Executive Director of TBI, Dr. Dare Olagoke Adaramoye, explained that the programme was designed to bridge gaps in the justice system, strengthen the prosecution of GBV and FGM cases, and enhance survivor-centered legal aid and support services. He presented community findings that revealed:
- FGM persists due to cultural and marital beliefs.
- Low awareness of the VAPP Law and Child Rights Act at community level.
- Barriers to reporting including fear of stigma and reprisal.
- Weak linkages between community actors and law enforcement.
- Medicalization of FGM, with some health workers secretly performing the act.
- Silence around survivors’ needs, as many lack psychosocial support or safe spaces.
Stakeholders highlighted the following challenges hampering justice delivery:
- Lack of funding for witnesses to attend court due to budget deficiencies.
- Overwhelmed judiciary with fewer than 30 judges across Oyo State.
- Frequent posting of judges, disrupting continuity of cases.
- Lack of defense counsel for accused persons.
- Witness reluctance to testify in court.
- Inadequate government shelters and underfunded Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs).
- Poor collaboration among health, justice, and social services.
At the close of the meeting, participants reached unanimous resolutions, including:
- Strengthening survivor-centered legal aid and ensuring resources remain survivor-focused.
- Advocacy for the establishment of specialized courts for GBV/FGM cases and recruitment of more judges.
- Increased financial allocation and timely release of funds to relevant MDAs.
- Expansion of family courts and designated judges to fast-track cases.
- Establishment of more government shelters and strengthening of SARCs.
- Continuous community sensitization on VAPP Law and child protection frameworks.
- Providing sustainable vocational training and empowerment for former circumcisers.
- Adoption of video-recorded testimonies to ease witness challenges.
- Stronger multi-sectoral coordination across justice, health, and welfare systems.
- Advocacy for amendment of the VAPP Law to address emerging gaps.
The meeting ended with a collective resolve by stakeholders, including the Ministry of Justice, National Orientation Agency, Oyo State House of Assembly, Ministry of Justice, FIDA, National Human Rights Commission, and law enforcement agencies, that FGM, GBV, and VAC are crimes against the state and must be addressed with urgency.
As one stakeholder put it: “Protecting our girls is not just a duty but a collective responsibility. FGM, GBV, and VAC are battles we must all fight together.”
