By Comr Amos Oge Kalu

The Okon-Aku community in Nigeria is taking a bold stance against the alarming rate of girl-child pregnancies, unwanted and infant pregnancies. Led by Chief Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, the Okon-Aku women gathered on January 2, 2025, to discuss solutions to this pressing issue.

They succinctly recognized that the issue of girl-child pregnancies is often linked to poverty, lack of education, and unemployment. To address these underlying issues, the women have vowed to empower themselves and their daughters through education and economic opportunities.

Chief Mrs. Ukoha, the women leader, charged the women to focus on their crafts and occupations, to reinitiate contribution amongst themselves as a means of empowerment. She also advised them not to use their hard-earned money for frivolous purposes but to invest in their future and the future of their children.

The community clean-up exercise, which is being reinforced by the women, is also a significant step towards restoring sanity and decorum to the community. This exercise, carried out by age grades, aims to clean up not just the physical environment but also the moral and social fabric of the community.

HRH Eze Ndukwe Iko, the Nnaka IV of Okon-Aku, praised the women for their bold initiative, emphasizing the importance of restoring morality and safeguarding the dignity of the girl-child.

Ézèogo Bernard Igomini Kama also lauded the women’s efforts, advising them to remain impartial and resolute in their pursuit of a better Okon-Aku.

The Okon-Aku women’s initiative is a powerful example of the impact that collective action can have on creating positive change in a community. Their determination to address the issue of girl-child pregnancies and to empower themselves and their daughters through education and economic opportunities is a beacon of hope for their community.