Religious leaders continue to say No to FGM, Osun State, Nigeria

By Deji Adefila,

Deji Adefila is an anti-FGM campaigner who has recognised how the Ramadan period poses a threat to girls going through FGM. He has gathered religious leaders to show that FGM is not part of religion and is not condemned.

Ramadan period poses a threat to girls being cut…

Last Friday, I hosted a Live Radio show in Osun State, Nigeria on Roles of Religious leaders to end the practice of FGM. I decided to put this topic up because of the Ramadan period. We found out that Cutters use this festival period to carry out this act.

My guests were Bishop Seun Adeoye, Director of media Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria PFN Osun State/Director of information, world Bishop’s council ( WBC), Africa, and Imam Alhaji Abdusalam Akinwumi, Special Assistance to the Grand Imam Osun State.

The radio conversation :

The Imam agreed that people do this ignorantly but believes Parents must be held accountable if their daughters are cut. He also stated :

“FGM is a wicked act against humanity and Allah frowns at evil doing”
Imam Alhaji Abdusalam

The Bishop gave an example of a survivor. A lady of 28 approached him in church and narrated how she’s been scared of Men because of the psychological effects of FGM. He said he referred her to a Medical Doctor who counseled and help her gain her confidence.

Both of them were very hard on Communication and persons still engaging the practice. They promised to speak more about it at their various worship centres, just as they charged Security agencies to make arrests of offenders including parents of any child being CUT. We had 11 callers during the show.

Bishop Seun Adeoye mentioned emphatically that: