The Initiative for Girl’s Rights and Health Development (IGRHD), with the support of the Frontline End FGM Movement, held its Born Perfect Campaign meeting in Ile-Ife, Osun State, aimed at promoting the rights, dignity, and health of girls while strengthening community efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other harmful practices.
The campaign, which was received by community members and stakeholders, reflects strong acceptance and readiness to support collective action towards protecting the girl-child.
The event, attracted religious leaders, traditional rulers, community stakeholders, women leaders, youth representatives, media practitioners, and civil society actors, focused on mobilising faith-based and community leadership for collective action in safeguarding the girl- child.
The Born Perfect Campaign meeting was led by Co-Founder of the Frontline Movement and Executive Director of IGRHD, Ayodeji Awodoyin, who emphasised that girls are born perfect and deserve to grow up free from violence, discrimination, and harmful cultural practices.
According to Awodoyin, “Every girl is born whole, valuable, and complete. Harmful practices like FGM have no place in our communities. By engaging religious and traditional leaders, we are laying a strong foundation for sustainable change. Together, we can protect our daughters and secure a healthier future for them.”
She further disclosed that IGRHD is willing to kick-start an End FGM Caravan, a community-to- community advocacy outreach that will move from one community to another with strong messages against FGM, while promoting girls’ rights, education, and wellbeing.
“The End FGM Caravan will take this message directly to the people from villages to towns, from faith centers to marketplaces until ending FGM becomes a collective community responsibility,” she added.
Religious leaders in attendance pledged to integrate messages against FGM, child abuse, and early marriage into sermons and teachings, while also promoting positive values that uphold the dignity and wellbeing of girls and women.
One of the participating religious leaders stated, “We have heard the message clearly today. From our pulpits and mosques, we will continue to speak against FGM and encourage families to protect their daughters.”
A major highlight of the event was the award of scholarships toten vulnerable girls, aimed at supporting their education and reducing their risk of exposure to harmful practices. Th
beneficiaries and their families expressed deep appreciation, describing the gesture as life- changing.
Participants described the meeting as timely and impactful, noting that it has strengthened collaboration between community leaders and civil society organisations in the fight against gender-based harmful practices.
Stakeholders also expressed strong interest in the proposed End FGM Caravan and affirmed that they are already looking forward to the Caravan outreach in 2026, describing it as a strategic approach that will deepen community engagement and accelerate progress toward ending FGM.
IGRHD reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the Born Perfect Campaign to more communities across Osun State and beyond, calling for continued partnership with donors, government agencies, and community institutions to secure a safer future for Nigerian girls.
