The Wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, has commemorated the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) with an awareness program at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) in Enugu.
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According to a statement on her social media handle, Mrs. Mbah, in collaboration with the Custos Care Foundation, visited the IMT to raise awareness about the urgent need to end FGM, in line with this year’s theme, “Step Up the Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End FGM.”
“We reinforced the importance of more vigorous advocacy, deeper community engagement, and sustained efforts to protect women and girls from this violation of their rights,” Mrs. Mbah stated.
The event began with an interactive session led by Comr. Egodi Igwe, the Managing Director of Custos Care Foundation, who encouraged the students to share their thoughts on FGM and what they hoped to gain from the discussion.
The Deputy Rector, Dr. Ejim Emeka Patrick, warmly welcomed the team, expressing his appreciation for the initiative and reaffirming the institution’s commitment to amplifying the message against FGM.
“He assured us that the students would not only listen but also take ownership of the message, raise awareness, and become strong advocates for ending FGM within their communities and beyond,” Mrs. Mbah noted.
Dr. Uzoamaka Uzoechina, the Technical Adviser on Gender Matters, provided a compelling overview of the day’s theme, highlighting the various initiatives championed by Mrs. Mbah’s office and foundation in tackling gender-based violence.
A key moment of the event was a powerful lecture delivered by Dr. Nevo Calistus Obiora, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital Parklane Enugu. Dr. Obiora provided a detailed breakdown of what FGM is, its different forms, its devastating physical and psychological effects, and practical strategies for prevention and eradication.
In her address, represented by the wife of the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Mrs. Chinyere Ugwu, Mrs. Mbah emphasized that “the responsibility is ours—as parents, educators, and citizens—to ensure that the next generation of women grows up free from any form of violence, harm, and free to live their lives to the fullest.”
Mrs. Mbah concluded by stating that “eradicating FGM requires continuous advocacy, collaboration, and commitment from all of us. We must all play our part in ending this harmful practice and ensuring that every girl has the right to live in dignity and without fear.”