Minister calls for eradication of ‘barbaric’ breast ironing practice

Uju Kennedy, minister of women affairs, says breast ironing and other forms of harmful traditional practices against girls must be stopped.

Kennedy spoke on Saturday when she led staff of the ministry on an advocacy and sensitisation visit to Garki chiefdom in Abuja.

She said girls in Kpaduma and Pygba communities in Abuja are subjected to breast ironing to make them unattractive to men.

The minister said such harmful practices contradict the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu which is aimed at enhancing the welfare of women and the girlchild.

“These practices are totally unacceptable and form part of condemnable and harmful practices against the female gender which must be stamped out,” she said.

“This age-long tradition could lead to cancer in the affected girls as it is capable of leading to nipple challenges in their future life as well as the production of sour breast milk for their infants which is dangerous to the growth and development of newborn babies.”

The minister said an intensive sensitisation campaign would be conducted in the affected communities through information dissemination to avoid excuses of ignorance.

The minister said any parent found wanting — after the sensitisation — will face the mobile court for appropriate sanctions.

She solicited the support of religious and traditional rulers in the communities, adding that her ministry is ready to “scale up plans to eradicate this barbaric act”.