Laraba MUREY
“I never derived any pleasure from sexual intimacy.” Yinka Kenny, 49, took a deep breath to gather her thoughts. For years she lived without questioning it. She assumed it was natural, she thought everything was fine.
It wasn’t until Yinka had an intimate conversation with her partner who was knowledgeable about Female Genital Mutilation, FGM, that she began to understand the true nature of her experience.
He took his time to check what was happening under me and he told me, “you were mutilated”
“I was like, excuse me? No, no, no, not me. You know, because I felt my parents were enlightened enough not to do that to me. I said, “No.”
But curiosity led her to a mirror, and what she saw confirmed the painful reality, a part of her had been taken. A part she never even knew was missing.
Yinka said “I’m one of the lucky people that wasn’t totally mutilated.”
Yinka confronted her mother, who was totally shocked when she learned about her daughters FGM. My mother explained that although my father was out of the country as at the time of my birth and she had complications “I was a set of twins.”
“I was thinking; could it be at the hospital? I did some research, some years back, and I realized that so many years ago, it was something that even hospitals carry out, just like male circumcision, before enlightenment started coming in. I just said to myself, one of the things that happened. Maybe I was just mutilated at the hospital without my mother’s consent.
And, you know, because it happened at birth, there wouldn’t be so much bleeding and all of that.
Since, its designation in 2012 by the United Nations, the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM is observed on February 6th annually to raise awareness about the harmful practice, promote education, and encourage advocacy to prevent FGM.
The day aims to support survivors, acknowledge their experiences, and provide a platform for their healing and empowerment.
According to UN, in 2025, more than 4.4 million girls – or about 12,200 each day – are at risk of female genital mutilation around the world. It estimates the financial cost of health care for FGM survivors at $1.4 billion annually.
Recall in February 2022, UNICEF raised alarm on the increase in FGM as Nigeria accounts for the third-highest number of women and girls who have undergone Female Genital Mutilation, with Kenny among the estimated 19.9 million women and girls’ survivors.
It also said that 4.3 million girls are at risk of female genital mutilation and the number is projected to reach 4.6 million by 2030.
Also, Ololade Ajayi, is one of the estimated 86 percent of females who were cut before the age of 5.
“I was cut as a baby, so I don’t remember the procedure,” Ajayi begins. “But its effects have been far-reaching, she added. During childbirth, I struggled to deliver naturally and had to undergo a cesarean section. A doctor later explained that FGM can cause complications during labor, as the clitoris plays a crucial role in oxytocin release and uterine contractions.”
Ajayi’s experiences don’t end there. “FGM has also limited my sexual experiences,” she acknowledges. “But I’ve found ways to cope and even fight back against this harmful practice.”
Through poetry, Ajayi initially found her voice and began to speak out against FGM. Interacting with feminist groups further empowered her to condemn the practice. This newfound confidence inspired Ajayi to establish DOHS Cares Foundation, which implements programs to combat FGM.
These initiatives include sensitizing traditional and religious leaders about the dangers of FGM, as well as educating young women and girls who may be at risk. Ajayi has even convinced her own mother to speak out against the practice, despite her initial ignorance and enabling of FGM when Ajayi was born.
Today, Ajayi’s organization continues to advocate for change, visiting rural schools and communities to educate girls and their parents about the harm caused by FGM.
Ajayi added, that despite existence of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition, (VAPP) Act is a law in Nigeria that criminalizes violence against people, including FGM.
She said, “There is a policy in place, the problem lies in implementation. how many cases of prosecution have we heard since the policy has been in place? Rural communities need to know about these laws and implement them by holding perpetrators accountable to this crime when reported.
For the founder of YinkaKenny Girls Care Foundation, Yinka Kenny, who has long been at the forefront of advocating against FMG as survivor, the battle is not just against a harmful practice but against deeply ingrained cultural beliefs that continue to fuel its existence.
“The main reason FGM persists in Nigeria is cultural belief. If women truly understood the medical dangers, they would not allow their daughters to go through it,” she said.
Despite ongoing efforts to end the practice, many still see it as a rite of passage or a way to preserve a girl’s chastity.
Her experience in advocacy has shown that even educated individuals sometimes support FGM.
“I once spoke to a well-educated man in Lagos who was about to take his daughter to the village for FGM. After we educated him on the risks, he changed his mind. This shows that even the educated need awareness.”
Despite the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, which criminalizes FGM, enforcement remains weak.
Accordincg to Yinka, the challenge lies at the state and community levels. “Some state governors still believe in FGM, which makes implementing the law difficult,” she noted. To address this, she believes advocacy must begin at the grassroots, engaging traditional and religious leaders to influence change.
Beyond education, she stresses the importance of survivor empowerment. “If we put FGM survivors in leadership positions, they can drive policy changes and ensure real enforcement,” she argued.
She also called on the media to amplify survivor stories and raise awareness about the dangers of FGM.
While speaking on the medical implications of FGM and why the practice must be eradicated, Senior Registrar at the National Hospital Abuja, Dr. Dada Ayodele Olanrewaju explains that FGM has both short- and long-term health consequences.
“FGM may actually affect the woman, either psychologically or physically. A woman who realizes her genital tract has been altered may struggle with self-esteem issues.
Additionally, sexual intercourse may be painful, a condition known as dyspareunia,” he explained.
Besides sexual health, FGM can also complicate childbirth.
“The narrowing of the vaginal opening, known as acquired gynecotic stenosis, makes vaginal delivery difficult. In some cases, special surgeries like vaginoplasty or infibulation are done, depending on the type, of the woman’s genital cut are needed to restore the anatomy,” Dr. Olanrewaju added.
In the short term, victims of FGM face serious health risks, including excessive bleeding, infections, and there may be sepsis in extreme cases, it can lead to death. The long-term effects range from psychological trauma and painful intercourse to complications in childbearing and in some cases infertility.
According to Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Abuja Branch, Barrister Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, the legal fight against FGM in Nigeria has made some progress, particularly with the passage of the VAPP Act.
She acknowledges that awareness about FGM’s dangers has increased over the years.
“Before now, many mothers supported the practice because they didn’t know better. They believed it helped prepare girls for chastity. But with the passage of the VAPP Act, the provision against female genital mutilation and other harmful traditional practices against women and girls, has thrown enlightenment and has also enabled more people to access the courts for judicial protection and intervention on such matters.”
However, she noted that enforcement remains a challenge. One way the legal system is improving is through the designation of six Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) courts in Abuja, which helps expedite justice for victims.
“These courts have judges with improved knowledge of SGBV cases, making it easier to ensure justice is served within a reasonable time,” she added.
FIDA has also taken proactive steps to increase awareness, particularly in rural areas where FGM is still prevalent. The organization has simplified and translated the VAPP Act into local languages and animated versions to make it accessible to more people.
“We have taken advocacy campaigns to rural communities, like those in Kuje, and we will continue to do so,” Barrister Onyenucheya-Uko emphasized.
She believes men must also be part of the fight against FGM. “Our society is patriarchal, and men often make key decisions regarding their families. They need to understand that under the Nigerian constitution, all humans are equal. Women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” she stressed.
As the world marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, her message is clear: “FGM is criminal. It is unlawful, dehumanizing, and degrading. Any parent who allows it has failed their child. It must stop.”
While FGM rates vary across Nigeria, Commissioner for Women Affairs & Social Development in Adamawa State, Neido Kofulto, noted that the practice still exists even in regions with relatively low prevalence. “UNICEF data puts FGM rates in Adamawa at about 1%, but we know some villages still practice it. It is an old tradition that does not solve any problem. Instead, it deforms the female genital organ,” she said.
She remains optimistic that FGM can be eradicated, just as other harmful cultural practices like the killing of twins were successfully stopped.
“People once believed that twins were evil, but we ended that belief. The same can happen with FGM. It is possible to stop it,” she asserted.
The fight against FGM requires collective action from governments, legal institutions, medical professionals, activists, and community leaders. It is not just a women’s issue but a human rights violation that must be tackled with urgency.
