Towards 2030: Ending FGM in Nigeria Requires Sustained Commitment and Investment

Every year on 6 February, the world marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), reaffirming the right of every girl to grow up free from harm. The 2026 theme “Towards 2030: No End to FGM Without Sustained Commitment and Investment” speaks directly to Nigeria’s reality and the urgent work that remains.

Female Genital Mutilation is a harmful practice that involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. It is a violation of the human rights of girls and women and a form of gender-based violence. In Nigeria, FGM remains a serious concern despite years of advocacy and legal reform. An estimated 20 million women and girls in Nigeria are living with the consequences of FGM.

Nationally, about one in five women aged 15–49 has undergone the practice. Most procedures occur before the age of five, often on infants who are unable to speak or consent. FGM cuts across regions, ethnic groups, and religions, with higher prevalence in parts of the South-West, South-East, and South-South.

Nigeria criminalized FGM through the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015, and several states have adopted similar laws. However, legislation alone has not been enough. Weak enforcement, social pressure, silence, and misinformation continue to allow the practice to persist, sometimes in hidden or medical forms.

The consequences of FGM are severe and lifelong. Survivors face immediate risks such as pain, bleeding, and infection, as well as long-term complications during childbirth, sexual and reproductive health challenges, and psychological trauma. Beyond health impacts, FGM reinforces gender inequality and limits girls’ confidence, education, and opportunities.

At Girls Power Initiative (GPI), we believe that ending FGM requires more than laws and annual awareness days. It requires sustained commitment from government institutions, communities, and partners, as well as long-term investment in what works. Girls’ education, community-led behavior change, survivor-centered healthcare, and consistent engagement with parents, traditional leaders, men, and boys are all essential.

As we move towards 2030, the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, Nigeria stands at a critical moment. Ending FGM is possible but only if we act consistently, fund sustainable solutions , and place girls’ rights and well-being at the center of our efforts.

There will be no end to FGM without sustained commitment and investment.

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By Richard I. Henacho

Communications Officer, GPI Abuja