Lagos State

Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode on Tuesday distanced herself from the criminal activities of a certain individual posing as her representative to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.

Ambode, in a statement signed by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Folashade Kadiri said the unknown individual has been utilising social media platforms to defraud people, alerting Nigerians to be wary of such entreaties from any person.
The statement read, “The attention of Her Excellency, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, wife of the Governor of Lagos State, has been drawn to the criminal activities of a certain individual, masquerading as her representative, for the purpose of extorting money from unsuspecting persons, using the social media platform. Her Excellency wishes to state very emphatically, that she has no links whatsoever with such fraudulent element, neither has she authorized anyone to act on her behalf in questionable circumstances”.
The release further urged members of the public to be vigilant and avoid any dealings with shadowy, self serving and dubious individuals purporting to represent the First Lady, while seeking public support for apprehension of the fraudster(s) by law enforcement agencies for prosecution in accordance with the law

The Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, through the Asst. Director Public Affairs, Folashade Kadiri, on Monday, called on mothers, women groups and high-powered government organizations, increase efforts towards total eradication of female genital mutilation.

She made the call in Alausa, Ikeja, while interacting with newsmen on the occasion of the 2017 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

The first lady of Lagos state said: “It is surprising that 45 out of every 100 adult women living in Lagos State have undergone FGM at one time or another as reported in the National Demographic Health Survey 2013.

“This is largely due to migration from those states where the prevalence in much higher.”

Speaking further, she disclosed that FGM is mostly carried out on young girls sometimes between infancy and age 15, and this causes much bleeding and health issues which include but not limited to cysts, infections, infertility, as well as complications and even death in some cases.

Mrs. Ambode noted further that it was erroneous and misleading to tie the gruesome procedure to family honour, hygiene, fertility, protection of virginity and prevention of promiscuity.

She called for massive public awareness campaigns and concrete action against the practice.

She contended that only when mothers began to raise their voices against the act and governments initiated strong legislation, could we begin to race toward total eradication of the wicked practice in Africa and the world come 2030.

FGM is inextricably linked with other forms of gender inequality, such as violence against women and girls, and other harmful practices such as early and forced marriages.

February 6 of every year has been set aside by the United Nations as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

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