The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has affirmed the federal government’s commitment to eradicating the harmful practice of “breast ironing” among young girls in Nigeria. Specifically targeting the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), she pledged to eliminate breast ironing and other detrimental traditional customs affecting the well-being of the girl-child.
During an advocacy visit to the Garki Chiefdom in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mrs. Kennedy-Ohanenye, as conveyed by her Special Assistant on Media, Ohaeri Joseph, underscored the government’s determination to end the ancient traditional practice prevalent in Kpaduma and Pygba communities. This practice, categorized as Gender-Based Violence (GBV), involves subjecting young girls to breast ironing as a traditional rite aimed at averting premature male attraction.
Emphasizing the unacceptability of such practices, the Minister highlighted their condemnation as harmful actions against females. She assured that comprehensive plans would be implemented to eradicate breast ironing, and parents found complicit in perpetuating the practice would face sanctions through the mobile court system, as every child is considered a responsibility of the government.
Mrs. Kennedy-Ohanenye disclosed that her ministry had developed strategies to integrate communities into sustainable empowerment programs in 2024, aiming to address the root causes of harmful traditions.
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In response to the government’s initiative, the District Head of Garki Chiefdom Council, Emmanuel Gade, pledged support for federal efforts in putting an end to the longstanding tradition and other harmful practices targeting the female gender.
