From Awareness to Action: How Five Communities in Saki West United to End Female Genital Mutilation
FOF Team
The dedicated team of the Funmi Omoniyi Foundation
Why This Matters
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) remains a deeply rooted harmful practice that threatens the health, dignity, and future of women and girls. Ending it requires more than awareness—it demands community ownership, leadership commitment, and sustained action.
In November and December 2025, the Funmi Omoniyi Foundation (FOF) led a coordinated Anti-FGM intervention across five communities in Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State—Apinnite, Iya, Ogidigbo-Ile, Sango, and Salam Salam. What began as capacity building evolved into open dialogue, consensus building, and finally, a public declaration of abandonment of FGM.
This is the story of that journey.
Building the Foundation: Training Community Champions
On 28th and 29th November 2025, FOF conducted a two-day intensive training for selected Community Champions from the five designated communities.
Apinnite Training Session
Iya Training Session
Ogidigbo-Ile Training Session
Sanngo Training Session
Salaam Training Session
Key Training Areas:
- •Practical knowledge on the types of FGM
- •Understanding of health consequences and human rights implications
- •Information on national and global responses to FGM
- •Guidance on laws and policies prohibiting FGM
- •Skills on proper documentation and activity reporting using logbooks
Key Participants:
- Mrs. Adesope Simiat Adenike — RH/FP Coordinator
- Mr. Emmanuel Yelotan — Supervisor, Center for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health
Creating Safe Spaces: Community Dialogues on FGM
Following the training, FOF organized a One-Day Community Dialogue on 6th December 2025, bringing together men, women, boys, girls, community champions, and traditional rulers from all five communities.
Community Dialogue - Apinnite
Community Dialogue - Iya
Community Dialogue - Ogidigbo
Community Dialogue - Sango
Community Dialogue - Salaam
Key Training Areas:
- •Honest conversations about cultural beliefs
- •Addressing myths surrounding FGM
- •Listening to lived experiences
- •Encouraging collective responsibility for protecting girls
Key Participants:
- Mrs. Fehintola Abigael — Head of Primary Health Care, Saki West LGA
- Mr. Emmanuel Yelotan — Supervisor, CCPRH
Strengthening Commitment: Consensus Building with Leaders and Institutions
To ensure sustainability, FOF facilitated consensus-building meetings on 17th December 2025 with community leaders, religious leaders, and law enforcement agencies.
Leaders Meeting
Leaders Meeting
Leaders Meeting
Leaders Meeting
Key Training Areas:
- •Shared responsibility in enforcing anti-FGM laws
- •Community-led monitoring
- •Collaboration between traditional institutions and formal authorities
- •Full support from leaders toward protecting women and girls
A Historic Milestone: Public Declaration of Abandonment of FGM
The journey reached a defining moment on 29th December 2025, when all five communities publicly declared the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation.
Public Declaration Event - Apinnite
Public Declaration Event - Iya
Public Declaration Event - Ogidigbo
Public Declaration Event - Sanngo
Public Declaration Event - Salaam
All Five Communities Declare Abandonment
December 29, 2025
Together, we publicly declare the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation and commit to protecting the rights, health, and dignity of all girls in our communities.
Communities That Declared Abandonment
- Apinnite
- Iya
- Ogidigbo-Ile
- Sango
- Salam Salam
Concrete Commitments Made
Certificates Collected
Official Certificates of Abandonment signed and collected by all communities
Signposts Installed
Anti-FGM signposts erected in all participating communities
Surveillance Teams Formed
Community surveillance teams established to monitor compliance and sustain progress
In collaboration with:
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) • Oyo State Government • Center for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductive Health (CCPRH)
Looking Ahead: Sustaining Change Beyond the Declaration
Ending FGM is not a one-day event—it is a long-term commitment. Through community ownership, trained champions, supportive leadership, and active surveillance mechanisms, these communities have taken a bold step toward safeguarding the rights, health, and dignity of girls.
Our Ongoing Commitment
- •Continuous community engagement
- •Monitoring compliance
- •Supporting local champions
- •Scaling similar interventions to other communities
Together, progress is possible. Together, harmful practices can end.