By Daniel Peters
As the world marks International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, WAVE Foundation Africa stands in solidarity with millions of girls and women whose bodily integrity, dignity, and fundamental human rights have been violated by this harmful practice.
The President, WAVE Foundation
(Wo-MEN Against Violence and Exploitation), Arc Lola Ibrahim, says that since its founding in 2016, the Foundation has remained unwavering in its mission to end all forms of violence and exploitation against women and girls, with the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as a core pillar of its work.
“Female Genital Mutilation is not culture—it is violence. It is a violation of human rights, a public health concern, and a profound injustice that robs girls of their autonomy before they even have a voice,” Lola Ibrahim noted.
“Zero tolerance must be more than a slogan. It must translate into laws that are enforced, communities that are informed, and girls who are protected,” she stated.
Our Journey and Key Achievements
Over the past decade, WAVE Foundation Africa has grown from grassroots advocacy into a nationally and internationally recognized organization working across community, policy and global advocacy spaces.
Key achievements include: Sustained community sensitization and survivor-centered advocacy to challenge harmful social norms that sustain FGM.
Strategic use of media for social change, including the production of End FGM radio and television jingles in Nigeria’s three major languages, in collaboration with NTA International.
Development and distribution of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials for students, strengthening early prevention through education.
Active policy advocacy, contributing to national discourse on the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act) & Constitutional Amendments and the need for stronger implementation and accountability.
Consistent representation of African civil society in global spaces, including the United Nations, Financing for Development (FfD) processes, World Bank and IMF Meetings and Regional Engagements, ensuring grassroots realities, inform global decision-making.
Mentorship and leadership development for young women and youth advocates driving change in their communities.
“Ending FGM requires courage—courage to confront silence, challenge tradition when it harms, and place the rights of girls above all else,”
According to Lola Ibrahim, “We have seen communities change when they are engaged with respect, evidence, and empathy. Change is possible and it is already happening.”
As an organization with ECOSOC accreditation since 2021, WAVE Foundation Africa continues to amplify African voices and advance survivor-centered, rights-based approaches to ending FGM.
Our Aspiration for the Future
Despite progress, FGM persists due to entrenched norms, misinformation and weak enforcement of existing laws. WAVE Foundation Africa envisions “a future where every girl is born free from fear, free from harm, and free to determine her own destiny”.
“Our aspiration is simple but urgent: a generation of girls who will never have to heal from a practice that should have ended long ago,”
“The work ahead demands political will, sustainable financing, and community ownership. We are committed to staying the course until FGM is history.”
In the coming years, WAVE Foundation Africa will scale up community-led prevention programmes, strengthen survivor support systems, deepen youth engagement, expand strategic partnerships, and continue bridging grassroots realities with global advocacy platforms.
Gratitude to Partners
WAVE Foundation Africa expresses profound gratitude to its partners, donors, volunteers, media allies, traditional and religious leaders, government institutions, and fellow civil society organizations whose collaboration has made this work possible.
“Ending FGM is a collective responsibility. Every partner who has stood with us—locally and globally—has helped push the needle closer to zero,” Lola Ibrahim said.
On this International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, WAVE Foundation Africa calls on governments, institutions, communities, and individuals to move beyond rhetoric to decisive action.
Zero tolerance must mean zero excuses.
