….Advocates Plead Support, Mercy
BY JUMAI NWACHUKWU/CHIKA KWAMBA/OGORAMAKA AMOS/RITA OYIBOKA/JUDITH OBIANUA
Her ambition was cut short even before it began. Life for Adaobi (not real name) took a tragic turn a second time when in less than a month of registering to learn hairdressing in Asaba, she discovered that she was with child. The 17-year-old had to be sent home as it contravened the policy of the establishment. According to sources who spoke to The Pointer, a young and unemployed herbalist in the neighbouring Ibusa community was responsible. It was further discovered that Adaobi hailed from a dysfunctional family. Her father had earlier abandoned her mother and fled into the arms of another woman, leaving them to roam the streets in search of salvation.
But Adaobi is not alone. It has become a common sight to see young girls, largely in their teenage years with bulging stomachs in markets, junctions and even churches seeking alms to make ends meet. This tragedy is not just limited to urban centres but is also prevalent in our rural communities.
According to Majesty Alugkabrie et al, in a study published in the National Library of Medicine 2021, adolescent pregnancy was 106 per 1000, with the prevalence in Nigeria between 7.5 and 49.5 per cent. ‘’Nigeria, in particular, has the highest adolescent population in SSA, accounting for 50 million adolescents, constituting more than one in four youths making up half of Nigeria’s current estimated population of 205 million’’
Teenage pregnancy is more than just a public health issue, it is a deep experience that reshapes the trajectory of young lives in ways that are often underestimated or misunderstood. Around the world, millions of adolescent girls face this life-altering challenge, and while society may be quick to label it as a personal mistake or lapse in judgment, the truth is far more complex.
For many of these young mothers, life takes a sharp turn the moment they realize they are pregnant. The carefree days of adolescence filled with school activities, friendships, and dreams for the future are quickly replaced with the overwhelming responsibilities of impending motherhood. Instead of planning for exams or thinking about college, their days become consumed with prenatal appointments, discussions about baby names, and the mounting pressure of how to provide for another life. The shift, both mentally and physically, is immense and often isolating.
For many teenage mothers, life changes overnight. A once carefree routine of school, friendships, and dreams becomes filled with doctor visits, diapers, and adult responsibilities. The mental and physical shift is immense.
Speaking with The Pointer, the convener of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Mega Impact, Ms Florence Ogonegbu said most teenage mums are victims of peer influence. ‘’That accounts for the greater percentage, in my experience. Some fall into that situation due to neglect, and a smaller percentage are victims of abuse. But overall, peer pressure seems to be the leading cause.
‘’I’m speaking from the standpoint of someone who has been a youth development facilitator for quite some time, working closely with young people. The teenage years are a phase of exploration, it’s that period when young people want to try new things and are easily influenced by their peers. Whatever their peers are doing becomes what they also want to do.
“Let me share a real-life experience. One of my mentees, back when I was in South Africa, got into a relationship while still a teenager and ended up pregnant. Interestingly, the person she was involved with wasn’t even her age mate, he was much older and took advantage of her. So, while abuse played a role in her case, it all started from peer influence. She wanted to be part of the crowd, they were partying, going out, and acting like “big girls” and she didn’t want to be the odd one out or be seen as “dry” or not in tune with what was happening.
‘’So, from what I’ve seen, many young girls fall into these situations because they’re trying to fit in. That’s my perspective based on years of working with youth. Another teenager who became pregnant; hers was quite an interesting situation. Her family lived in a kind of shared compound, the kind where teachers and students lived together, including male students and older men. Which is why I always say it’s not just about neglect. The girl I’m talking about is now grown up, but at the time she was still a teenager.
‘’There was a neighbour, and no one suspected they were in any sort of relationship. She would sneak off to see him. He was much older, not even close in age, but no one knew what was going on between them until she fell pregnant. The funny part was that no one even noticed she was pregnant, she didn’t go out, she didn’t have friends, and she was still having her periods. She only started to complain about not feeling well, and her mum, concerned, took her for a medical check-up. It was during that check-up that they discovered she was pregnant. Everyone was in shock.
‘’This was someone who barely left the house and yet, she was carrying a child by a neighbour no one had suspected. To make matters worse, the man responsible denied the pregnancy and completely distanced himself. At that point, the girl’s family had to step in. They took over everything from her care to the child’s upbringing. They looked after her emotionally, physically, and financially. They didn’t blame or condemn her; instead, they supported her through the entire process.
‘’That’s why I believe recovery and reintegration are quicker and more effective when there’s family support. When your family stands by you, rather than casting you aside in shame, the healing process is faster. Yes, it was a mistake but having a supportive family made all the difference. That’s my perspective on it’’ she said.
Speaking to our correspondent, Mrs Nduka, a nurse, observed that many young girls today are heavily influenced by peer pressure and social media. “Most of them no longer have interest in education or learning a skill,” she said, adding “All they seem to care about is owning expensive phones and wearing costly wigs. Some even go as far as selling their ovaries, without thinking about the long-term consequences.”
Nduka also criticized the role of some parents in enabling this trend. “When a 17-year-old girl brings expensive items home, and no one questions her source, what message are we sending? How can we then be surprised by the rise in teenage pregnancy?”
She added that young girls are often lured by men, many of whom are not ready for the responsibilities of fatherhood, using small gifts to win their trust, only to impregnate and abandon them. “This must stop. It is destroying the futures of our young girls. Many of them once dreamed of becoming nurses or doctors, but due to a lack of parental guidance, peer influence, and the negative impact of social media, they fall into cycles of sexual abuse, exploitation, and rape.”
Mrs Nduka emphasized that teenage girls do not become mothers simply because they are reckless. “If we want to change the future, we must start by listening to the voices of teenage mothers and addressing the root causes of their realities. Only then can we truly say we are protecting and empowering the next generation,” she said.
Meanwhile, a Porthacourt-based lawyer, Patrick Alexander-Briggs, said that the issue of teenage pregnancy, especially when it results from sexual intercourse with a minor, raises several important legal and societal questions.
‘’First, any sexual relationship between an adult and a minor that results in pregnancy is illegal. The law does not recognize a minor’s ability to give valid consent to sex. This means that even if the man was misled or genuinely believed the girl was over 18, it is still classified as statutory rape. Whether or not it is punishable and to what extent, depends on the judge and the specifics of the case.
Mr Alexander-Briggs highlighted some positions in responding to teenage pregnancy: ‘’When pregnancy occurs, the default response should not automatically be “abortion.” Medical advice and individual circumstances must guide the decision-making process. Health, psychological readiness, and legal considerations should all be evaluated carefully.
Speaking on the issue of teenage pregnancy, Parish Priest of the Anglican Church, Diocese on the Niger, Onitsha, Anambra State, Rev Emmanuel Udueze shared one of his experiences from a parish he once served.
“I’ve encountered it (teenage pregnancies) in one of my church stations. What happens is that the parents hide the teenager; they do not allow her to come out of the house so that the pastor does not notice. But when the teenager involved is someone who has been active in church and suddenly becomes absent, the pastor begins to ask questions and visit. Eventually, the truth comes out.
“Usually, the teenager suffers a lot of stigma, even from her parents. In that particular case, I gave the parents counselling. I told them, ‘This has happened. What you need to do now is support the girl. Abortion is out of the question.’ I encouraged them to reach out to the boy involved. If he was ready to take responsibility or even marry her, then the families could work out a way forward.
“Initially, the father was livid. He said he would rather kill his daughter than allow her to marry the young man. I had to sit with him repeatedly, quoting scripture, and reminding him of God’s mercy and the need for forgiveness and compassion. Eventually, he calmed down. The young girl later gave birth.
“Stigma is not needed but sadly, it is often the first response. I have always maintained that the Church should not be a place of condemnation but a place of healing. We should embrace such girls and offer them a path to restoration, not rejection. We also need to begin early with teachings on morality, chastity, and personal responsibility. The pulpit must go beyond prosperity sermons, we must tackle real issues affecting our youth,” he said.
Meanwhile, the founder of Teen Ignite Academy, Mrs Isioma Kawekwune, shared her personal experience with teenage pregnancy from her school days, a memory that continues to drive her advocacy today.
“During my Junior Secondary School (JSS 3) year, more than half of the girls in my class were pregnant. At the time, we didn’t have the language to describe it. We didn’t talk about consent, coercion, or abuse. We only whispered among ourselves, casting glances at those who returned to school months later.
“Some girls resumed their education after childbirth, though they had lost a year. Others, overwhelmed by the challenges of motherhood or weighed down by shame, never came back.
“Looking back, I realise what was missing. There was no real guidance. No safe space. No adult truly listened to or educated us. If we want to better protect vulnerable girls today, we need to act intentionally,” she said.
Speaking further, she mentioned key ways to curb teenage pregnancy. “For one, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) must be integrated into the school curriculum. Girls need to understand their bodies, rights, and the concept of consent. They need to be taught about healthy relationships and how to recognise abuse. This education must be age-appropriate and rooted in facts, not fear or shame.
“Secondly, every school should have mandatory counselling units. We need trained counsellors who offer emotional support, listen without judgement, and can identify early signs of trauma, abuse, or distress before it escalates,” Kawekwune noted.
The Teen Coach stressed that parents also have a key role to play. According to her, “They are the first line of defence. They must be empowered to have honest conversations with their children, especially about body safety. Too many parents shy away from these talks, only to regret it later when something goes wrong. We need parent engagement programmes that equip them with practical tools.
“Furthermore, community-based safe spaces for girls are essential. These can take the form of girl clubs or mentorship groups in schools and neighbourhoods. These spaces allow girls to open up, build confidence, and learn in a protected, judgment-free environment.
“We also need to identify at-risk girls early. Not every girl will ask for help, but many show signs. When we notice them, let’s not ignore them. Let’s assign mentors, people who will walk beside them through life’s toughest phases and remind them of their worth.”
Speaking to our correspondent in Rivers State, Dr Grace Woshi, a gynaecologist who works at a Private Hospital in Port Harcourt was initially reluctant to speak due to the sensitivity of the topic says teenage pregnancies are a daily reality.
Woshi says “Teenage pregnancy is becoming alarming and it is so sad because gradually it’s becoming a norm in society because girls are now seen as a money factory (Baby factory)”.
‘’You will be surprised to know that some parents even encourage or push their girls into doing it not minding the consequences while some cases are caused by peer group pressure, ignorance, unnecessary curiosity and adventure”.
‘’Many of these girls come in with higher chances of preeclampsia, anaemia, sexually transmitted infections, premature birth, and low birth weight. Additionally, they may experience complications during delivery like eclampsia, postpartum infections, and postpartum haemorrhage, or even life-threatening issues because their body is still in the process of developing”
Another respondent, Nurse Mercy Ihuoma who works at Rivers State Government Healthcare Center in Port Harcourt says, “I’ve seen cases of teenage girls as young as 14 and 15 getting pregnant. They’re more likely to experience complications during delivery, and their babies often have low birth weights. Some girls hide their pregnancies until it’s too late. They’re scared of stigma or parental anger”
She says the common pattern she noticed in most cases is neglect from parents “I want to plead with parents to put an eye on their teens because that age is what I call inquisitive age, they want to explore, they want to try out things and they are easily manipulated too”.
Some parents are focused on making more money and don’t put an eye on their children, while other parents feel that the age of 14 to 16 years are mature enough to handle themselves which is not true. That age range is easily lured, tricked and manipulated”
“Some of the abuse cases were done with manipulation from an adult who would promise then things N1, 000 or N2,000 and the child is excited and before you know it, she is being abused”
“On the other hand, we have peer pressure. They want to belong, they see their mates having boyfriends and they want to have and before you know it someone gets pregnant”.
“I want to beg mothers especially; please put an eye on your teenage girls. Draw them close, let them be open with you in such a way that if something is wrong they can easily tell you. Give them proper sex education and let them know the dangers. Make them aware of the negative aspects. Teenagers are not yet mature enough to handle things’’ she said.
Also, Mrs Nkiru Festus, a school counsellor said early marriage contributes to teenage pregnancy. She told the story of two sisters who were forced into marriage at the age of 15 and 16 years old.
She said, “These girls were very brilliant; they were in SS1 and SS2. I even suggested that the elder one sit for WAEC/GCE because of how bright she was. I noticed after the Easter school break last year, these girls hadn’t resumed. I got worried and then I made some inquiries only for me to find out that they had been married off”.
She explained the negative effect of teenage pregnancy on a girl child’s education “Teenage pregnancy has a lot of negative effect on a girl child.” Her life is on pause or changes direction due to the pregnancy; her education is put on hold or ends in some cases; the stigma in society weighs itself on her.
“It gives her trauma because she is faced with a life that she hasn’t been prepared for mentally, and physically. As a teenager her body is just developing, she hasn’t even gotten used to the changes only to be slammed with motherhood”
Mrs Festus encouraged schools to have a special lesson to help teen moms who can’t mingle due to the stigma attached to teenage pregnancy. “Schools should help these girls by having lessons with them encouraging them to continue their education and not give up hope.
Mrs Agartha Chikamso, a teacher at a community secondary school in Port Harcourt who spoke to our correspondent said, ‘’We need to educate our children and create a safe environment where they can ask questions and get the support they need. We need to teach both girls and boys about their bodies, about responsibility, and respect for one another. And we need to make sure every girl has the opportunity to finish her education and chase her dreams”
“If we don’t help these girls, the cycle repeats itself. The child of a young mother is more likely to grow up in poverty and without the proper care or education. This means that the next generation is also at risk of falling into the same traps”.
Augustine Chinemereze, a social worker at Women Outreach says, “Often, when a teenager becomes pregnant, she suffers rejection from the very people who should be her support system. Yet, this is a time when she is most vulnerable—physically, emotionally, and socially. The fear, confusion, and isolation can be overwhelming.
‘’Rather than deepening her pain with shame, we should choose a more constructive path—responding with maturity, compassion, and caution. This doesn’t mean condoning the pregnancy, but recognizing that love and guidance will help her make better choices moving forward. Let’s correct it with care. Let’s lead with love. Helping a young girl rise above her mistake will do more for her—and our society—than pushing her down with judgment ever will. Support, not shaming is the way”.
‘’A 16-year-old girl identified as Blessing (not her real name), was abandoned by her family after disclosing her pregnancy, leaving her vulnerable, homeless, and out of school. With no access to prenatal care, until a compassionate neighbor contacted us. When we found her, she was malnourished, emotionally broken, and just five months pregnant.”
“We quickly mobilized resources to provide Blessing with emergency shelter, food, clothing, and access to medical care. A trained counsellor was also assigned to help her recover emotionally from the trauma she had endured. Blessing is now enrolled where she is receiving vocational training, education support, and regular antenatal check-ups.”
A legal practitioner, Joseph Wonda said impregnating a minor (anyone under the age of 18) in Nigeria is illegal under several laws and may be classified as statutory rape, defilement, or child sexual abuse, depending on the circumstances.”
He cited some laws in Nigeria which back legal consequences against men who impregnate minors including Criminal Code Act (Southern Nigeria) – Section 218, Penal Code – Section 282 and 283, and Child Rights Act (2003) – Section 31
He said it is important to note that while the Child Rights Act is federal, its implementation depends on state adoption. As of now, not all states in Nigeria have domesticated the Act, especially some in the Northern states.
“The man may also face charges for child exploitation, indecent assault, or trafficking, depending on the circumstances. If the girl dies due to pregnancy complications or unsafe abortion, he could face manslaughter charges.”
Barr Wonda adds that to lower the number of teenage pregnancies in Nigeria, ‘’we need to fix problems in the legal, social, cultural, and educational system.
He says that teachers should teach teenagers about reproductive health, consent, bodily autonomy, and contraception in schools. And also ensure that these lessons are appropriate for the age group, culturally sensitive, and factual.
He emphasised the need for full implementation and enforcement of the Child Rights Act in all 36 states. And offenders are punished quickly to deter future violations.
Corroborating earlier legal opinions in an interview with our correspondent in Asaba, a legal expert, Eze Oloenu said, ‘’What will make a man have carnal knowledge of a minor when there are grown-ups out there? Since that is what he desires, let him go for his mate not little ones; that’s abuse.
Speaking with Nurse Joy Chinedu, she said ‘’Most of these children do not know sex. They are forced into it, some of them when their parents bring them here we find out they don’t know anything about what is happening to them. I am handling a case presently of a 14-year-old. She did not know she was pregnant until she was brought here.
According to another respondent, Envang. Ilor Sylvester, ‘’Most of the people affected are those their parents neglected or overprotected, not knowing they are coursing harm. I have come in contact with an overprotected case, it brought problems to the family because the child started doing things in secret without the knowledge of the parents. I have a case of a young girl in Asaba here who travelled to the east and her uncle raped her.
Also, Mrs Uwakwe Faith said that the major cause of teenage pregnancy is lack of proper care from the parents and also poverty. ‘When I was serving as a Corper in Kwara State, there was a case of a JSS2 student who was impregnated by an Alhaji. Unfortunately, the girl in question is from a Christian home. After all was said and done, Alhaji said he would marry her but her mother refused saying she would not give out her daughter for early marriage.
