POLICY, LAW, AND INSTITUTIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HARMFUL CULTURAL PRACTICES IN EKITI STATE

Female Genital Mutilation and Widowhood Practice is one of the cultural harmful practices suffered by women in Nigeria. This remains a pervasive issue in Ekiti State, with significant consequences for victims. This study evaluates the effectiveness of legal and institutional frameworks in eradicating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and harmful widowhood practices in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Despite international and national efforts to abolish these practices, they persist due to cultural and social norms.This study employs a doctrinal approach to examine the legal frameworks governing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and harmful widowhood practices in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The doctrinal analysis reveals significant shortcomings, including inadequate definitions, insufficient penalties, and limited jurisdictional scope. Furthermore, inconsistencies between federal and state laws, and the lack of effective implementation mechanisms, undermine efforts to eradicate these harmful practices. The research aims to critically analyze the existing laws, policies, and judicial decisions to identify gaps and inconsistencies hindering effective eradication. Through a comprehensive review of relevant statutes, case laws, and policy documents, this study evaluates the adequacy of Nigeria's legal framework in addressing FGM and widowhood practices. Particular attention is paid to the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, the Ekiti State Gender-Based Violence (Prohibition) Law 2019, The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended, The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of women in Africa. The paper highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the current legal framework and identifies areas for improvement. The study aims to educate and enhance the protection of women from such cultural harmful practices. It also analyses that female Genital Mutilation and widowhood practices are violation of a victim’s rights. The paper highlights how women in a patriarchal society are faced with some practices that affect their dignity and self-esteem. This study recommends legislative reforms, policy revisions, and judicial activism to strengthen the legal framework. Specifically, it advocates for clearer definitions, stiffer penalties, and enhanced jurisdictional scope. Effective implementation requires inter-agency collaboration, community engagement, and capacity building for law enforcement and judicial officials. This research contributes to the understanding of the legal dimensions of FGM and harmful widowhood practices, informing policy and legislative reforms aimed at eradicating these practices in Ekiti State