On Wednesday, 20th of September 2023, UNICEF in partnership with TRAILBLAZER INITIATIVE AND ONELIFE INITIATIVE held a 1-Day state level Orientation meeting with National Youth council of Nigeria(NYCN) Executives & Supervisory/Coordinating Ministries to mobilized 640 groups and 960,000 individuals to join the M4Good to join FGM in Oyo State
The meeting which started at about 10.00am had in attendance (57) participants which include the UNICEF child Protection specialist – Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Abba and Faith Nyam, Executive Secretary and Officials of the Oyo State Agency for Youth development led by Alhaja Adegboola, Representative of Executive Secretary of Oyo State Primary HealthCare Board, Executives of National Youth Council, Staffs of TBI and Onelife initiative Nigeria.
Comrade Abdulquadri Abdulsalam, the State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Oyo State Chapter in his welcome address promised that youths and youth organizations under the council will give their cooperation and maximum support to put an end to FGM and mobilize youths massively to join the Movement for Good to endFGM.
He expressed the readiness of the members of youth council collaborate with partners and be active agents of transformation which will make them advocates to end FGM in Oyo State. He however promised that they will meet their target to mobilize about 640 groups who will mobilize about 960,000 individuals to join the M4GOOD to end FGM.
The Executive Secretary of Oyo State Agency for Youth Development; Mrs. A.O Adegboola said the youths have a voice to eradicate all harmful practices in their various communities. She charged the executives of the organizations present to take lead in eradicating FGM in their various communities and local government areas. She also charged each of them to act as a mouth-piece of end FGM in any environment they are found. She said FGM is an harmful practice that has caused a lot of damage to many girls due to the ignorance of their parents. She also advised the youths to develop friendly strategies in tackling different challenges encountered in the course of the project due to the traditional origin of FGM.
Mrs Hadiza Abba; UNICEF Child protection specialist in her good will message emphasized that ending FGM is a responsibility of everybody which is the reason for the development of Movement for Good. She said in order to enroll 5million individuals who will in turn act as surveillance to end FGM, the youths are the key to reach these people. She said it is critical to have the support Of the NYCN to help identify regions where FGM is still being practiced, and report cases to the appropriate quarters and help reduce the practice to the barest minimum.
The Executive Director of Onelife Initiative Nigeria; Mr. Sola Fagorosi in the first presentation of the meeting explained different classifications of FGM, beliefs and misconceptions of FGM, risks and dangers associated with FGM and the prevalence rates of FGM.
The Executive Director of Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria, Dr Dare Olagoke-Adaramoye educated the youth executives on the need for youth to enroll on Movement for Good to End FGM, how to mobilize pledges on the M4Good website, and its benefits for the Youth. After which all participants pledged on the website and downloaded their certificates.
This was followed by a breakout session anchored also anchored by Dr. Dare. Participants were divided into five (5) groups where they developed a 4-month action plan for the mobilization of groups and individuals to join the M4Good to end FGM in all the 33 LGAs of Oyo State.
At the end of the Action plan development session, the executives of the 40 youth organizations agreed as follows:
- The leaders pledged their commitment and assurance to elimination of FGM in Oyo state
- The leaders agreed to form partnership with the Movement for Good to end FGM in Nigeria and mobilize their members across all the 33LGAs of Oyo State.
- Step-down Orientation meeting/sensitization meeting with member organizations through zonal and LGA meeting platforms
- Leverage on Community engagements/meeting to sensitize people on FGM and mobilize FGM pledges.
- Leverage on Youth Council activities on the International Day of the Girl Child to sensitize and mobilize pledges.
- Sensitization and mobilization at Religious/worship centers by Faith based youth organizations.
- Individual social media campaign
- Advocacy visit to LGA, LCDA, market place, trade union etc and NYCN supervisory bodies at zonal and LGA level.
