The Edo State First Lady, Dr. (Mrs) Betsy Obaseki and her Oyo State counterpart, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, have rallied support to check the menace of teenage pregnancy, which affects their social development.
Former First Ladies of Ekiti and Imo States, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi and Nneoma Okorocha, respectively, also joined their voices in advocating for a better deal for the girl-child.
The wives of the governors and former governors made the call in Benin City, during a seminar held as part of activities to mark the fourth edition of the Betsy Obaseki Women Football Tournament (BOWFT), which is themed, “Say No to Teenage Pregnancy and Abandonment.”
In her welcome address, Mrs. Obaseki said the journey to fighting social vices affecting the girl-child has been largely successful with an increase in the number of States domesticating the VAP Law, noting that the number of States that have subscribed to the law has grown from 12 to 35 States.
She described the journey as being very fruitful with evidence showing that the fight against challenges and vices facing the girl child across States are being tackled.
The Edo First Lady noted, “We gather here every year to address one social vice or the other bordering on the girl-child in the country. We are not just here to play football but to address these social vices and challenges.
“Teenage pregnancy and abortion has become a big problem in Nigeria, especially in the South south region. It exposes children to VVF, endangering their lives. They are exploited, impregnated and abandoned to suffer. Poverty has made families vulnerable, making them exploit their young children to measure up. It leads to teenage pregnancy and abortion.”
According to her, Edo State in the last 8 years has put modalities in place to protect the girl-child as the VAP Law is very effective, with many violators tried and jailed for abusing the girl-child in the State.
Former First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi; First Lady of Oyo State Tamunominini Makinde, and former First Lady of Imo State, Nneoma Okorocha in their separate goodwill messages thanked Mrs. Betsy Obaseki for the initiative that has touched many lives.
The keynote speaker, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo who spoke on “The Edo Model: a Model for Addressing Teenage Pregnancy and Child Motherhood in the South South region of Nigeria,” commended Mrs. Obaseki for her novel initiatives.
She noted, “Betsy Obaseki has provided you with a model that will keep the girls engaged and win the battle against challenges facing them. Girls must have the ability and right to say no to things they do not want.
“The Obaseki’s model and approach allows you to look at many dimensions of the problem facing the girl-child in Nigeria. This model will help us navigate the problem facing the girl child.”
