The silent persistence of Female Genital Mutilation in a modern world that claims progress
Across continents that boast technological advancement, policy reforms, and evolving cultural norms, a deeply rooted practice continues to affect millions of girls and women, often in silence, often behind closed doors. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), defined by the World Health Organization as the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons, remains one of the most controversial and harmful traditional practices still prevalent today.
In Nigeria, the story is particularly complex. As Africa’s most populous nation, the country carries one of the highest burdens of FGM globally, with deep cultural roots cutting across several ethnic groups. From the South-West to parts of the South-East and South-South, the practice has long been woven into tradition, often passed from grandmothers to mothers, and then to daughters, under the guise of preserving honor and femininity.
In communities across Osun State, Ebonyi State, and Ekiti State, FGM is sometimes performed within days of a child’s birth. In other regions, it is carried out during adolescence as part of initiation into womanhood. While prevalence rates have declined in recent years, the numbers remain significant enough to raise urgent concern among health experts and policymakers.
At its core, FGM is often justified by communities as a rite of passage, a means of preserving purity, controlling female sexuality, or ensuring marriageability. Yet, medical professionals warn that the consequences are devastating. Immediate risks include severe bleeding and infection, while long-term effects range from complications in childbirth to chronic pain and psychological trauma.
“It’s not just a physical wound, it’s a lifelong scar,” says Dr. Amina Bello, a public health specialist based in Abuja. “We still encounter cases where young girls are brought in with life-threatening complications. It is entirely preventable.”
The human stories emerging from Nigeria’s FGM crisis are both painful and powerful. Zainab (name changed), now 19, recalls her experience in a rural community in Kogi State. “I was held down by women I trusted. I didn’t understand what was happening. They said it would make me a ‘real woman’,” she says. Years later, she continues to deal with both emotional trauma and physical discomfort. “No one talks about the pain after. It doesn’t just go away.”
According to estimates from UNICEF, Nigeria accounts for a significant proportion of the over 200 million girls and women worldwide who have undergone FGM. While awareness campaigns have increased, the practice often goes underground, making it harder to track and eliminate.
The Nigerian government has taken legislative steps to address the issue. The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), enacted in 2015, criminalizes FGM and prescribes penalties for offenders. Several states have also domesticated the law, reinforcing the legal stance against the practice. However, enforcement remains uneven.
“We have strong laws on paper, but implementation is the real challenge,” explains Barrister Chukwuemeka Obi, a human rights lawyer. “Many cases are never reported because families see it as a private cultural matter. There is also fear of stigmatization.”
Beyond the legal framework, cultural resistance continues to slow progress. In some Nigerian communities, abandoning FGM is seen as rejecting ancestral heritage. Elderly women, often the custodians of tradition, play a central role in sustaining the practice.
However, change is gradually emerging from within. Grassroots organizations and local advocates are engaging community leaders, traditional rulers, and even former practitioners in dialogue. In some villages, public declarations have been made to abandon FGM entirely, a significant milestone in shifting norms.
Religion, often cited as justification, is increasingly being re-examined. Christian leaders across Nigeria have spoken against FGM, emphasizing that it contradicts biblical teachings about the sanctity of the human body. As written in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…?” a message many pastors now use to educate congregations.
This growing consensus among religious authorities is helping to dismantle one of the strongest justifications for its continuation.
Education is proving to be one of the most powerful tools in the fight against FGM. Young Nigerians, especially women, are increasingly rejecting the practice and advocating for bodily autonomy and human rights. Social media campaigns, school programs, and survivor testimonies are amplifying awareness like never before.
Yet, the battle is far from over. Poverty, illiteracy, and deeply entrenched beliefs continue to fuel the cycle. In remote areas, access to information remains limited, and traditional norms hold strong influence.
The reality of FGM in modern Nigeria is one of contradiction, a nation striving for development and global relevance, yet still confronting practices that undermine the dignity and health of its girls and women. It is a reminder that true progress goes beyond infrastructure and policy; it lies in transforming mindsets and protecting the most vulnerable.
As Nigeria stands at this critical crossroads, the question remains: can culture evolve without losing identity, and can tradition give way to truth? For millions of girls at risk, the answer cannot come soon enough.
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