Ekaette Akpan showed up at the grand finale of the Ibom Open Maternity week (IOM) held at the secretariat ground of Nsit Ubium local government area which was attended by key stakeholders in the health sector. It was a culmination of a weeklong activity to mark this year’s world breastfeeding day.
Akpan, had responded to an invitation by the health authorities that all pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should attend the closing ceremony of the Ibom Open Maternity project jointly organized by Care Life International.
At 16 years old, she was already pregnant and was set to become a single mother because according to her, she has no husband and the boy who was responsible for the pregnancy was nowhere to be found.
Akpan is not alone, she represents hundreds of other teenagers who are pregnant and are expecting babies. The presence of pregnant teenagers did not fail to attract the attention of many discerning observers as a good number of those who turned up either came up with babies or were pregnant particularly among the teenagers who were supposed to be in school.
Though statistics are not readily available, the number of teenagers who are pregnant and have dropped out of school in Akwa Ibom State is quite alarming. In various communities, there is at least one teenager who is pregnant, has no husband and worse still, lives in a household headed by a single parent.
According to investigations, the situation is quite disturbing and appears to be getting out of hand. In one community, a senior secondary school student who impregnated his classmate was forced by the parents to serve as a housemaid while at the same time looking after the pregnant student.
In marking this year’s World Population Day which was celebrated in July with the theme, “Empowering young people to create families they want in a fair hopeful world,’’ The Challenge Initiative (TCI) noted that “accurate information now more than ever, enabling access to accurate sexual reproductive health information and services is critical to achieving inclusive development outcomes.’’
TCI which supports Nigeria in scaling up positive changes in reproductive health and managed by John Hopkins Centre for Communication programmes, funded by the Gates Foundation and Bayer notes that though gains have been made in explaining reproductive healthcare, reducing maternal mortality, “millions of young people still face barriers,’’ according to Taiwo Johnson, country director of TCI in Nigeria.
Johnson, a public health specialist says young people also face hurdles in having access to youth-friendly services adding that “empowering youth with knowledge and giving them access to services is not just a health issue, it is a rights issue. ”
Experts from the reproductive health unit of the state ministry of health state say commodities for family planning services are available , girls were reluctant to avail themselves of the services due to stigmatisation.
They describe the situation as worrisome saying “there is need for advocacy to the wife of the local government chairman as it is very embarrassing to womanhood.”
Though the situation is not limited to Nsit Ubium local government area alone, it needs an intervention by the state government and partners as well.
Alfred Charles, the chairman of Nsit Ubium Local Government believes working together in partnership with others including the state government would makes much impact.
“Let us emphasize that the local government council does not see today’s programme as an end, but as a renewal of our resolve. We will continue to partner with the state government, the office of the first lady designate and our healthcare professionals to sustain and expand the gains we are celebrating today including the sensitisation against teenage pregnancy.’’ he said.
The Ibom Opening Maternity Project was meant to celebrate the 2025 World Breastfeeding week with a target of reaching 5000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, 3000 infants in 7 seven local government areas across three senatorial districts of the state.
It was jointly organised by the state ministry of health, the state primary healthcare development agency and other partners, and its theme was “strengthening local and sustainable systems to promote effective breastfeeding for healthier mothers and children.”
Moses Essien, the chairman of the state house of the assembly committee on health who was present at the grand finale noted that the most important requirement to address the growing number of teenage pregnancies would be an enlightenment campaign to encourage attitudinal re-orientation.
‘Children should not be allowed to be engaged in motherhood when they are not ready, there must be enough sensitization to our daughters so that they can understand when it is due for them to engage in family life. It is not ideal for a child of 16 to 17 years of age to be involved in a family chore where you have to nurture your children instead of going to school and then you are seen on the streets, hawking instead of being in school because there was no foundation.
The Ibom Opening maternity week may have come and gone but it brought the vexed issue of the number of pregnant teenagers to the front burner of public discourse. It raises pertinent questions begging for answers about the future of the girl child not only in one local government area but in many other parts of the state.
Akpan’s response that she does not have any support from the would-be father of her child underscores the urgent need for policymakers and the state government to take urgent steps to find solutions to the challenge in the increasing numbers of teenage pregnancy in Akwa Ibom state. Such measures according reproductive health experts should include youth friendly services offered by health workers, while “local influencers and community leaders should normalize conversations about family planning in traditionally conservative spaces.’’
According to Abiodun Ajayi, of Life Planning for Adolescents and Youth (LPAY), project, there is a need for investment, in health systems and in policies that give us the tools to thrive.”
Others however believe more efforts should be made in investing in the health and wellbeing of youths as well as ensuring equitable access to family planning services as it is not only a public health necessity but also a foundation for sustainable development.”
