Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State is grappling
with a disturbing rise in teenage pregnancies, with girls as young as 13 and 14
forced into motherhood. Virgin Heart Foundation, in collaboration with
community stakeholders, warns that if this trend is left unchecked, it could
endanger the future of the community’s young girls.
In response, Peace Dike, Executive Director of Virgin
Heart Foundation, led her team to Mbaitoli for an intervention with survivors
of teenage pregnancy. The session, which began at 10 a.m. at the palace of the
late Eze Nwosu Edward Nwokororie, brought together eight teenage girls willing
to share their stories — six with babies and two heavily pregnant.
The girls revealed that poor guidance, misinformation,
poverty, and lack of support pushed them into early pregnancies. Despite their
circumstances, they expressed strong desires to return to school or acquire
skills. Five girls indicated their interest in completing secondary school and
obtaining their West African Secondary School Certificate (WASSC), while three
showed passion for learning trades such as hairdressing and fashion design.
Their stories were heartbreaking:
“I was in JSS 3 when I discovered I was pregnant for a
24-year-old man. He left for Lagos and I dropped out of school to nurse my
pregnancy,” said a 13-year-old from Umueze community.
“Life has been difficult for me since I got pregnant and
put to bed. I wish to go back to school and continue hairdressing,” shared a
17-year-old from Orodo.
Another
17-year-old from Oguta said, “I got pregnant for a man who already had three
other girls pregnant. Heartbroken, I cut him off and now I want to focus on
raising my baby and becoming a nurse.”
During the intervention, Peace Dike encouraged the girls
to keep their dreams alive. She sponsored three girls to return to school and
supported two others to begin vocational training. She further appealed to
well-meaning individuals, government agencies, and organizations to intervene
in the lives of these vulnerable girls so they can fulfil their dreams despite
the challenges they face.
The testimonies highlight a deepening crisis of teenage
pregnancy in Mbaitoli, with cases increasingly reported from schools, markets,
and communities. Stakeholders warn that without urgent action including
comprehensive sexuality education, access to youth-friendly reproductive health
services, and stronger community support the cycle of early motherhood will
continue.
Virgin Heart Foundation has mapped out strategies to
tackle sexual violence in Mbaitoli LGA and its environs by creating
awareness on sexual reproductive health, life skills and competency
domain.
Yet the courage and determination of these girls prove
that with the right support, they can rebuild their lives, complete their
education, learn skills, and secure brighter futures for themselves and their
children.
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