16 days of activism: NGO organises football competition to tackle FGM in Oyo

Onelife Initiative, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has organised a football competition as an advocacy tool to campaign against female genital mutilation (FGM) in Oyo state.

In a statement on Tuesday, ‘Sola Fagorusi, executive director of Onelife Initiative, said the football competition which was held on November 24 and 25 was part of activities to commemorate this year’s 16 days of activism.

Fagorusi added that the tournament was also held to create awareness and sensitise young men to get involved in the campaign to end FGM in Oyo.

FGM refers to all procedures involving the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons.

According to the NGO, type 1 clitoridectomy which involves the partial or total removal of the clitoris, is most practised in the state and the south-western part of the country.

Fagorusi said the focus on males at the event was to ensure that they would grow up to “be fathers, who should be able to speak up against FGM in their homes then and now”.

He added that the overarching message of the competition was to kick out FGM from the state.

Gbemileke Ojerinde, director, child welfare, Oyo state ministry of women affairs and social inclusion, noted the timeliness of the football initiative.

Ojerinde ​​acknowledged previous collaborative efforts between the state government, development partners, and stakeholders to eradicate the practice, despite persistent occurrences.

The football competition supported by YouthHub Africa through the UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme for the elimination of FGM awarded N50,000 cash prize to the winner while the first and second runners up took N30,000 and N20,000 respectively.