*Donates delivery kits, bags to 12 pregnant teenagers
By Adeyinka Adeniran
A Non Governmental Organisations, Twenty-one Five Child Foundation (T1FF) has said the need to give pregnant teenager girls a fresh start and the opportunity for them to make something out of life remains the motivation for identifying and supporting them.
This is as the NGO called for increased support and partnership in its bids to ensure that young girls who fall victims of teenage pregnancy are saved from societal condemnation and stigmatization.
The Executive Director, T1FF, Ambassador Tolu Taiwo made the disclosure on Monday while speaking at an event to identify and support 12 pregnant teenagers as part of activities to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration.
The pregnant teenage girls were selected from PHCs in Ibadan Southwest local government area of the state.
The event with the theme “Give to Gain” held at the Town Planning Primary Healthcare Centre, Ring Road, Ibadan with a special programme for “Mum & Child Project 4.0.”
Ambassador Taiwo while motivating the girls urged them to pick up the pieces of their life, make a success story, and impact lives, especially by sharing their mistakes and experiences.
She said the organisation is working with PHCs and government hospitals to help girls, by providing them with support for them to get back to school or learn a skill.
She explained that the challenges the organisation is facing include scouting for these girls, moderating, and mentoring them, noting that not all the girls that were identified and approach complied with embracing the support.
She identified: ignorance, promiscuity, greed, rape, and abuse, often perpetrated by family members or religious leaders as some of the factors responsible for teenage pregnancies.
The T1FF boss emphasizes the importance of collective responsibility, urging parents, religious bodies, schools, and individuals to play their part in helping the girls.
She satressed that the organisation is working actively with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Woman Affairs, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Information, to spread awareness and provide support.
She noted that the goal of the effort is to give the girls a second chance at life and help them become successful.
Ambassador Taiwo however disclosed that her organization is open to collaborations and funding from individuals and corporate organizations to support their cause, stressing that her team is committed to making a difference and inspiring others to do the same.
She said the event which was the fourth edition has impacted over 70 teenage girls since it started with the first.
In a good well message, Oyo state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Balogun who was represented by the Chief social welfare officer of the Ministry, Mrs Ibironke Igien harped on the need for parents to support their girls even when they make mistakes of unwanted pregnancies.
She said, when victims of teenage pregnancy are badly treated, they can run into the waiting hands of people involved in nefarious activities including human trafficking, organ harvesting, and baby factory.
In her presentation, the guest speaker, Executive Director, Gender Alive Foundation (GAF), Mrs Jadesola Ajibola enjoined the girls, to take their future seriously by setting goals that can materialise into a sustainable future for the mother and child.
According to her, there are several challenges that will face teenagers and young girls including stigmatization, shame, and ignorance among others, on account of being pregnant at an early age.
She called on parents of the pregnant teenage girls to monitor them to ensure they walk through the delivery journey while they suporot then to return back to their normal lives after childbirth.
In their separate remarks, two of the pregnant teenagers said although they had learnt their lessons, they expressed appreciation to T1FF for rekindling their hopes of a better future despite their unwanted pregnancies.
They expressed readiness to five life a second chance and restart their either by going to school or learning a trade after delivery of the babies.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of sanitary and ante natal items to the teenage pregnant girls with a plan to support them begin life afresh after the delivery of the babies.
