Over 400,000 unplanned births occur yearly in Nigeria — Child rights advocate

Child rights advocate and founder of the Twenty-one Five Child Foundation, Amb. Tolu Taiwo has disclosed that over 400,000 unplanned births occur in the country yearly.

Taiwo made this known at the launch of the Twenty-one Five Child Foundation (T1FF) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Tuesday.

She added that half of these births affect young girls aged 15 to 19, adding that between 2020 and 2023, Nigeria reported a staggering 27,698 cases of gender-based violence, with 1,145 cases resulting in fatalities.

Taiwo who drew attention to the critical need for urgent action to address the root causes of the pressing issues stressed the need for a change of approach on the part of the religious leaders and the parents of the victims.

She added that the old idea of stigmatization had caused a lot of damage as some of the victims had abortions which in the end resulted into an untimely death.

Taiwo, the founder of T1FF, expressed the foundation’s vision to alleviate the physical and mental suffering being faced by teenage pregnant girls in society.

She stressed the organisation’s mission to provide support services for pregnant teenage girls and survivors of gender-based violence while actively working to prevent future occurrences through education, advocacy, and community engagement.

She urged individuals from all sectors to join hands in creating a safer and more inclusive society for all. She also emphasised the importance of education, stakeholder engagement, and community involvement in combatting the prevalent issues of teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence in Nigeria.

“As we embark on this journey, I urge each and every one of you to join us in our mission to create a safer, more inclusive society for all. Whether you are a government official, a community leader, a healthcare provider, a student, or a concerned citizen, there is a role for you to play in this important work,” Taiwo said.

She said T1FF aimed to make a significant impact in transforming the landscape of child rights protection in Nigeria with a clear focus on building a future, where every young girl and boy has the opportunity to thrive without fear of violence, discrimination, or stigma,

Highlights of the programme included a keynote address delivered by a legal luminary, Ms Omotola Olugbodi, on the laws surrounding child rights, as well as cutting of cake, musicals, and goodwill messages.

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