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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., 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.
