The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on Nigerian schools to integrate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) education into their curriculum as part of efforts to eradicate the harmful practice.

Denis Onoise, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF’s Lagos Field Office, made the appeal during a two-day media dialogue on advocacy to end FGM, held in Benin. He said schools’ Guidance and Counseling Departments have a crucial role in enlightening young people about the dangers of FGM, describing it as a form of gender-based violence requiring urgent action.

Onoise urged school authorities, Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs), and communities to take the lead in sensitising children, parents, and guardians, noting that knowledge gained in schools often spreads to families and neighbourhoods. He also identified marriage registries as important channels for counseling young couples to commit to raising children free from harmful cultural practices.

“FGM is illegal in Nigeria, and parents must know that allowing their daughters to undergo it attracts sanctions, including fines between ₦200,000 and ₦500,000 or imprisonment,” Onoise warned. He stressed that awareness of penalties will help deter families from subjecting their daughters to the practice, while survivors are being supported through psychosocial services and community education.

UNICEF emphasised that ending FGM requires stronger collaboration between schools, marriage registries, and communities, underscoring that a coordinated approach is vital to safeguarding girls and protecting future generations.