1. Welcome to today’s edition of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint programme on #endcuttinggirls. I am Abayomi Sarumi, your anchor.

2a. Today, in a bid to bring all stakeholders together, as we work to #endcuttinggirls

2b. We will look at partnering with traditional rulers/village heads in the campaign to #endcuttinggirls

3. For the benefits of those joining is for the first time, this weekly tweet conference runs from 5pm to 7pm every Thursday. #endcuttinggirls
4. It is one of the many activities aimed at bringing an end to female genital mutilation and cutting in this generation #endcuttinggirls
5. It’s therefore imperative to appreciate @UNICEF_nigeria and @UNFPAnigeria for this laudable initiative #endcuttinggirls
6. We hope to make this as engaging as possible, so start sending in your questions from 6:30pm. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #endcuttinggirls
7. FGM/C; Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for nonmedical reasons #endcuttinggirls
8. In type 1 of FGM/C, the prepuce of the clitoris is removed with the clitoris. It’s called Clitoridectomy #endcuttinggirls
9. In type 2, the prepuce, clitoris and the labia minora is cut off in a process known as Excision #endcuttinggirls
10. Infibulation which is the removal of the clitoris, labia minora and majora with subsequent suturing and reopening of the vagina is the type 3 #endcuttinggirls
11. Any other form of cutting, mutilation, numbing, deadening et cetera not captured in type 1 to 3 is type 4 of FGM/C #endcuttinggirls
12. This act, which medical personnel now carry out illegally, is done on the girl child for no medical reason(s). #endcuttinggirls
13. Albeit, in most places, it’s practiced due to the dictates of the culture #endcuttinggirls
14. For many who have been led to cut, it was part of rites of passage into womanhood #endcuttinggirls
15. Who doesn’t want the fanfare of that historic passage? Their innocence, no longer a source of confidence #endcuttinggirls
16. Understanding that FGM/C in some culture is a norm necessitates the need for partnership with relevant stakeholders #endcuttinggirls
17. Also, identifying the right stakeholders and engaging them successfully is pivotal to #endcuttinggirls
18. Identifying the traditional rulers as custodians of culture and “gatekeepers” to the community #endcuttinggirls
19. Sets the tone for the partnership that can help reverse this trend #endcuttinggirls
20. In Nigeria, traditional rulers are next to the gods. They are seen to be infallible and know what’s good for their people #endcuttinggirls
21. The above presupposes that the Obis, Emirs and Obas can’t and won’t set their people on the wrong path #endcuttinggirls
22. To this end, traditional rulers and their institutions have crucial roles to play if we must #endcuttinggirls
23. In communities around the world where people have openly declared to #endfgm, it has been led by the traditional rulers/institutions #endcuttinggirls
24. In 2009, traditional rulers led community members in the Upper Region, The Gambia to publicly declare abandonment of FGM/C #endcuttinggirls
25. Because Nigeria is a global player, best practices around the world have been adopted so we can reduce prevalence and ultimately, incidence of FGM/C #endcuttinggirls
26. This could be seen in various efforts of wives of governors in Nigeria to ensure we #endcuttinggirls in this generation.
27. These supports have been in collaboration with traditional rulers, village heads, community leaders and traditional institutions #endcuttinggirls
28. One of such efforts culminated in the most recent (globally) public declaration of abandonment of FGM/C #endcuttinggirls
29. It was a milestone for us and every stakeholder working ceaselessly to #endcuttinggirls
30. This declaration which was the first in Nigeria happened on 19th June 2017 in Izzi clan comprising of 3 LGAs in Ebonyi State #endcuttinggirls *insert pictures from event*
31. As mentioned earlier, it was also led by the traditional ruler and the declaration was pronounced by the custodian of culture in Izzi clan #endcuttinggirls
32. Various collaborative efforts by traditional rulers and other stakeholders have resulted in community level dialogues #endcuttinggirls
33. These dialogues have helped community members to speak openly about FGM/C and end the culture of silence around the practice #endcuttinggirls
34. It must be said that the culture of silence has been of the biggest challenges in combating FGM/C #endcuttinggirls
35. Those that have been cut do not have the courage to share their pains #endcuttinggirls
36. Those that are uncut don’t think it’s necessary to share their stories either #endcuttinggirls
37. As we all come together, in solidarity, to lend our voices and support the #endcuttinggirls campaign
38. The traditional rulers (institutions) remain one which can speed up our reach and aid our goals to #endcuttinggirls
39. Partnering and engaging our traditional rulers would be effective when we clearly define how they can help us #endcuttinggirls
40. Our traditional rulers can function in line with their divine roles as advocates, law makers and law enforcers #endcuttinggirls
41. As custodians of culture, when our traditional rulers become advocates, it gives our message “divine credibility” #endcuttinggirls
42. Being advocates erases the doubt of whether FGM/C is still acceptable in such communities #endcuttinggirls
43. As advocates, they will lead discussions in the community (always) and this banishes this culture of silence #endcuttinggirls
44. As law makers, they can set up bodies that would monitor (to eradicate) the activities of cutters in their communities #endcuttinggirls
45. Also, introducing alternative rites of passage is within the ambit of our traditional rulers as law makers #endcuttinggirls
46. When our traditional rulers function as law enforcers, they help ensure that community members respect the country and community’s law #endcuttinggirls
47. Changing the incentives for an act helps change the perception about it #endcuttinggirls
48. Traditional rulers can also make uncut women community ambassadors to preach the good in leaving women uncut #endcuttinggirls
49. By and large, to #endcuttinggirls, we must work with traditional rulers and village heads.
50. While they lead from the front as pathfinders for their people in the campaign to #endcuttinggirls