Female genital mutilation in Nigeria

Nigeria has the highest rate of female genital mutilation (FGM) in the world in total numbers. It is usually experienced by girls aged 0 to 15 years old. It involves either partial or complete removal of the vulva or other injury to the female genital organs and has no medical benefit.

The practice is harmful to girls and women and a is seen as a violation of human rights. Its consequences include infertility, maternal death, infections, and diminished sexual pleasure.

As of 2012, 27% of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 underwent FGM. While in some regions of Nigeria, the prevalence of FGM has halved in the past 30 years as of 2016, as of 2022 it is rising among girls aged 0–14, placing Nigeria as the third highest country for FGM worldwide in terms of percentage, according to UNICEF.

In May 2015, then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan signed a federal law banning FGM. Opponents of the practice cite this move as an important step forward in Africa, as Nigeria is the most populous country and has set an important precedent. However, activists and scholars stress the necessity of a cultural shift to fully eradicate the practice, as the new law alone may not address the broader issue of violence against women and girls and the status of women in Nigeria.