On February 6, 2026, C-HEALTH marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) with a dynamic school outreach in Imo State, Nigeria.
Under the theme “Accelerating Action: Youth can lead us to end FGM by 2030,” the organization targeted adolescents as key change agents.
Their advocacy team visited Ubomiri Girls Secondary School and Orodo Technical Secondary School, reaching over 1,000 students, teachers, and administrators.
This initiative highlighted the urgent need to dismantle harmful cultural practices through education and youth empowerment.
The C-HEALTH team received a rousing welcome at both schools, complete with student-led songs and vibrant traditional dances.
These performances showcased the young participants’ enthusiasm and cultural pride, signaling their readiness to champion the global push to eradicate FGM by 2030.
The large turnout underscored a growing awareness and commitment among Imo’s youth to protect girls’ rights and well-being.
During interactive sessions, C-HEALTH Coordinator Stephen Amadi, delivered eye-opening talks on FGM’s realities.
Students learned its definitions, the four types classified by the World Health Organization, and its devastating impacts—ranging from immediate pain and infections to lifelong childbirth complications, sexual health issues, and psychological trauma.
Amadi stressed that FGM offers zero medical benefits and starkly violates girls’ human rights, framing it as a practice rooted in outdated norms rather than necessity.
A core focus was empowering youth as anti-FGM champions. Adolescents were urged to challenge harmful traditions, educate peers, report suspicions, and advocate within families and communities.
“Youths are the vanguard for zero tolerance by 2030,” O emphasized, inspiring students to lead by example in fostering safer environments for girls.
The sessions sparked lively discussions, with students posing probing questions. Many wondered why mothers persist with FGM, prompting explanations of generational cultural pressures, social stigma fears, and misinformation.
Organizers clarified that these drivers stem from perceived obligations, not malice, yet perpetuate severe harm across generations.
Addressing myths head-on, responders debunked claims that FGM curbs promiscuity, noting no scientific link exists between the procedure and moral behavior.
“Character builds through education and values, not bodily alteration,” they affirmed, while highlighting FGM’s real toll of physical agony and emotional scars. On Type 4
FGM—non-cutting acts like pricking or stretching—experts explained its subtle violations of consent, potential for infection, pain, and trauma, rendering it equally condemnable under global standards.
Further queries tackled religion, health risks, and legality. No major faith endorses FGM, sessions confirmed, and Nigeria bans it via the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and state laws, with penalties for violators. This knowledge equipped students to navigate local contexts confidently.
The outreach wrapped with resounding success, boosting students’ awareness of rights, legal safeguards, and advocacy tools. Many pledged to spread zero-tolerance messages in their circles, reflecting heightened resolve.
C-HEALTH’s efforts affirm youth’s pivotal role in cultural shifts, as the organization presses on toward an FGM-free world by 2030.