Nigeria has restated its commitment to protecting women and girls from harmful practices, particularly Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and leveraging technology to accelerate its elimination.
Chargé d’Affaires of Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Mr. Syndoph Endoni, made the pledge at the UN Headquarters in New York during a High-level Event on Smart Solutions for a Safer Future Using Artificial Intelligence to End FGM.
Endoni said Nigeria remained committed to “promoting innovative, ethical and people-centred technologies to protect women and girls, strengthen social justice, and advance global development.”
He noted that eliminating FGM is central to Nigeria’s national, regional, and global development agenda. According to him, the high-level dialogue brings together experts, innovators, and advocates in a renewed drive to safeguard the rights, health, and dignity of women and girls.
“FGM remains one of the most harmful traditional practices affecting millions globally. Despite policies and sustained advocacy, the practice persists, driven by deep-rooted cultural norms, limited access to accurate information, and weak reporting systems,” he said.
Endoni explained that Nigeria has strengthened legislation, expanded community sensitisation, and collaborated with partners to intensify prevention efforts — but stressed that “traditional interventions alone are no longer sufficient.”
He said Artificial Intelligence offers new possibilities, including predicting high-risk communities, enabling confidential reporting, supporting real-time data collection, strengthening policy monitoring, and improving evidence-based decision-making. Digital education tools, he added, can also empower women and girls with accurate information about their rights and health.
“Nigeria believes that integrating these solutions into global protection frameworks will enhance early-warning systems, improve accountability, and accelerate progress toward eliminating FGM,” Endoni said.
He, however, emphasised that technology alone cannot end FGM.
“For meaningful outcomes, we must build strong partnerships among governments, development partners, civil society, traditional and religious leaders, and communities,” he said, urging stakeholders to “think boldly and collaborate with shared commitment to building a future where every girl is protected, valued, and empowered.”