Sustaining Momentum and Expanding the Reach: The 2026 Fight Against FGM in Saki West

The fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a continuous journey. While public declarations of abandonment are historic milestones, sustaining that commitment and expanding the message to neighboring communities are equally vital to achieving total eradication.

In 2026, the Funmi Omoniyi Foundation (FOF) took significant steps to consolidate the gains made in the previous year and expand its anti-FGM campaign to new frontiers within the Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Sustaining the Change: Review Meeting with the 2025 Surveillance Team

To ensure the sustainability of the abandonment declared in late 2025, FOF held a comprehensive review meeting with the Surveillance Team across Apinnite, Sanngo, Salam Salam, Ogidigbo Ile, and Iya Communities.

The meeting commenced with representatives from each community providing updates on their progress. FOF commended the participants for their unwavering hard work, commitment, and dedication to protecting girls.

The interactive session yielded heartwarming success stories that validated the effectiveness of the community-led approach:

• A Life Protected: A 7-year-old child scheduled to undergo FGM was spared as a direct result of the awareness and intervention provided by the surveillance team.
• Cross-Cultural Impact: In a predominantly Hausa section of one of the communities, advocacy efforts successfully protected a child being considered for FGM.
• Transforming Practitioners: A traditional circumciser (Olola) was educated on the severe health risks and consequences of FGM and consequently pledged to abandon the practice entirely.

Expanding the Reach: Community Entry and Advocacy

Building on the momentum, FOF identified five new communities in Saki West LGA for intervention: Otun, Agbele-Ile, Oke Oro, Koomi, and Mokola.

On May 15th, 2026, the foundation conducted a formal Community Entry and Advocacy visit to these areas. The FOF team was deeply honored by the warm reception from the Baale of each community, their secretaries, community chairmen, Public Relations Officers, and other key stakeholders. Even the Baale of Otun, who was unavailable in person, granted full approval for the activities via a phone call.

The communities demonstrated immense enthusiasm for the initiative. They expressed excitement about the project's commencement and pledged their full support and willingness to collaborate on activities aimed at the total abandonment of FGM in their domains.

Equipping New Leaders: FGM Champion Training and Orientation

To build a strong foundation in these newly engaged communities, FOF organized a one-day Training and Orientation for selected Community Champions on June 8th, 2026.

The objective was to strengthen community-led action by building the capacity of local stakeholders—including community leaders, women and youth representatives, and religious leaders—to drive advocacy, sensitization, surveillance, and reporting.

The intensive training covered critical areas such as:

• An overview of FGM and its various forms
• The socio-cultural factors sustaining the practice
• The severe health, psychological, and social consequences of FGM
• Human rights implications and the legal/policy frameworks in Oyo State and Nigeria
• Strategies for community engagement and behavior change communication
• Effective reporting and referral mechanisms for suspected cases

Looking Forward

The expansion into Otun, Agbele-Ile, Oke Oro, Koomi, and Mokola, coupled with the sustained vigilance in our 2025 communities, represents a massive leap forward in the fight against FGM in Oyo State.

The Funmi Omoniyi Foundation remains resolutely committed to supporting community-driven interventions. By empowering grassroots leaders and strengthening local response mechanisms, we continue our mission to promote the health, rights, and ultimate protection of women and girls everywhere.