Female genital mutilations (FGMs) are prohibited in most African countries. Regardless, they are still carried out in some regions. In Nigeria for instance, it is still widespread, according to a release issued last February by UNICEF.

To combat such practices, in Nigeria, social entrepreneur Dirug Samuel (Photo) developed SmartRR, a mobile app allowing people to report female genital mutilation and rape cases. 

Dirug Samuel is a computer science graduate from Adamawa State Polytechnic, Nigeria. He also holds a human resources certification from the Stallion Academy for Business and Leadership. As the founder and executive director of the Big Family 360 foundation, he has been actively opposing gender-based violence since 2017.  The social entrepreneur is renowned for his commitment to the fight against female genital mutilation and the support he helps provide victims of such acts.

His app SmartRR facilitates anonymous reporting of FGMs, using “the UNFPA service mapping program.” For Dirug Samuel, female genital mutilations violate human rights. So, he is set on contributing his computer skills to fight the phenomenon. 

Samuel also wants to sensitize communities against the phenomenon. “With awareness and innovations about the dangers of the practice of FGM, about 40 percent to 50 percent of women say they would not want their daughters to experience it [ed.note: FGMs] (...)The UNFPA and other stakeholders are achieving a lot in the fight against FGM in Nigeria,” he said in an interview in 2021.

In September 2021, the Big Family 360 Foundation’s CEO  won the UNFPA Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Hacklab and the Spotlight Initiative (SIARP) award.

Aïsha Moyouzame