Stakeholders in Rivers State have renewed calls for sustained commitment, increased funding and stronger institutional collaboration to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and improve support services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
The call was made during a press briefing held at Rivers Safe Home, Borikiri, Port Harcourt, to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
The briefing was convened by Ms. Inyingi Irimagha, who emphasised the urgent need for collective action to eliminate the long-standing harmful practice and address gaps in care for survivors.
She noted that the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM is observed annually on February 6, a day set aside by the United Nations to mobilise global efforts to end the practice and protect the rights and dignity of women and girls.
“With a clear focus towards 2030, we must ensure sustained commitment and investment to bring an end to female genital mutilation,” Irimagha said, stressing that advocacy must translate into concrete government action.
The event brought together key stakeholders, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Lauretta Davies- Dimkpa; Barrister Evelyn Membere-Asimiea, Director , Office of the Public Defender; Rivers State Ministry of Justice; representatives of the South-South SGBV Prevention Info Hub; and Gender and Development Action(GADA); and Dr. Mary Wobisike, Director of Health Education and Health Promotion at the Ministry of Health.
A major focus of the briefing was the need for a fully equipped and comprehensive Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Rivers State.
Speakers observed that although a Sexual Assault Centre exists, it lacks essential components such as integrated medical, legal and psychosocial services under one roof. They argued that survivors of rape, FGM and other forms of sexual violence should not be subjected to the trauma of moving between multiple institutions in search of help.
According to the stakeholders, a functional SARC should provide immediate medical attention, counselling, police support and legal assistance in one location to ensure survivors receive timely and coordinated care.
“The reason many victims do not report cases is because they are required to go from the police station to the hospital and sometimes to the court, often at great personal cost,” one speaker explained. “This process can be overwhelming and discouraging.”
Responding to concerns about funding, participants noted that the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation has a broad mandate, catering to children, persons living with disabilities, the elderly and other vulnerable groups. They said the Ministry’s budget is spread across numerous responsibilities, leaving limited resources for comprehensive SGBV services.
They therefore urged the state government to prioritise capital investment in infrastructure and service delivery to strengthen the response to sexual and gender-based violence and accelerate efforts to eliminate FGM.
The stakeholders further stressed that SGBV affects not only women and girls but also men and boys, highlighting the importance of inclusive support systems.
As the world marked the 2026 International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, participants expressed optimism that sustained advocacy, adequate funding and stronger partnerships would fast-track progress towards ending the practice and ensuring justice and care for survivors in Rivers State. Meanwhile,the Officer-In-Charge, SARC, Mr Owubokiri Dagogo Ere moved the vote of thanks at the event.
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