You are currently viewing Girls speak out on radio to show that change is possible, End FGM Campaign, Osun State Nigeria  

Girls speak out on radio to show that change is possible, End FGM Campaign, Osun State Nigeria  

By Ademola Adebisi with Value Reorientation for Community Enhancement (VARCE Nigeria)

The project:

The activity was focused on sensitization of the populace of Osun State and its neighboring states. Media and school outreaches were carried out.

The purpose of these activities is to uphold women’s rights and fully leverage the potential of women’s leadership in pandemic preparedness and response, the perspectives of women and girls in all of their diversity must be integrated into the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes in all spheres and at all stages of pandemic response and recovery.

In achieving an FGM-free generation in Nigeria and the world, the impact of media outreach and sensitization can’t be over-emphasized. The activity was focused on sensitization of the populace of Osun State and its neighboring states. Media and school outreaches were carried out.

Media play a crucial role in the work towards the abandonment of FGM because they contribute not only to disseminating information regarding the practice but also to influencing people’s perception of the subject itself. Click To Tweet

FGM is a complex issue that involves particularly sensitive themes such as sexual and reproductive health, the role and status of girls and women in society, and more widely the concept of gender equality, at times religion, different faiths, and above all human rights of the girls and women. This Easter and Ramadan break period is a time when a larger percentage of girls and women are more vulnerable because most of them are left alone with custodians of harmful traditional practices that are closed by family members.

The media will promote positive changes in behavior, allow girls and women who have been subjected to FGM to speak out show that change is possible and that certain girls and women have already made changes, to encourage people who are still reluctant to take a step to abandon the practices of FGM in our generation.

Physically challenged girls are trained on how they can protect themself and members of their family against all forms of GBV.   

In our media and school campaign, more emphases were on the right of the Girl Child, FGM abandonment, FGM being a violation of human rights, and Rape. 

Who did we engage and why?

Yusuf Dauda, An FGM Activist and a religious leader: 

Reason: He has been an Activist and an Advocate for the girl child over the years. He’s a strong Advocate fighting for EndFGM in Osun State and a Graduate of the GMC academy and also a Muslim religious leader.

Thomson Taiwo, A media Expert, and an Advocate:

Reason: Media personality who has engaged the media in standing against all forms of Violence against Women and the Girl Child

Azeezat Oyekola, A social worker, Child Rights Advocate,

Reason: She is a strong Advocate for the Protection of the Girl Child. Her presence is very high on media platforms. She has been on the field during Covid-19 to help young girls who are victims of Rape, Violence, and survivor of FGM.

Aminat Akande, A social worker, Child Rights Advocate,

Reason: She is a strong Advocate for the Protection of the Girl Child. Her presence is very high on media platforms. She is a public health expert.

Adebayo Deborah, A social worker, an FGM activist.

Reason: She is a strong Advocate for the Protection of the Girl Child. 

The success of the Media Project:

Calls came in from different locations during and after the program.

The calls we had prove to us that people listen to the program, it also shows the impact of the media advocacy program in Osun State.

Our secondary school activity on EndFGMat the Baptist Girls School Osogbo resulted in us setting up Girls Health Club 

Challenges encountered in the planning, organization, or execution of the Media project: 

  • The network for calls during the program. There was a poor Network.

Strong messages that came out of the Media activity 

  • FGM is a human rights violation
  • It is a global public health challenge 
  • Girls and women must be protected and left uncut 

The programs included:

Live Radio Phone in and School sensitization programme 

The media will promote positive changes in behavior, allow girls and women who have been subjected to FGM to speak out show that change is possible and that certain girls and women have already made changes, to encourage people who are still reluctant to take a step to abandon the practices of FGM in our generation.

In our media and school campaign, more emphases were on GBV, the right of a Girl, FGM abandonment, and FGM is a violation of human rights 

Ruth Harley

Ruth Harley is working with GMC as a Website News Editor, compiling stories written by End FGM campaigners working with the Global Media Campaign to End FGM across Africa. Alongside this work, she is running The Women’s Vinyl Project which empowers women and girls through singing and music and is helping to end FGM.