Former Lagos State First Lady and founder of the Hope for Women in Nigeria Initiative (HOFOWEM), Mrs Bolanle Ambode, has charged Nigerian youths, especially girls, to focus on their ambitions rather than engaging in needless intimate relationships capable of jeopardising their dreams.
Mrs Ambode gave this charge at the launch of the book “Let the Child Live” by Caroline Oluwadare, a beneficiary of HOFOWEM, in Lagos.
The former Lagos First Lady, who was represented at the occasion by Mrs Oyefunke Olayinka, emphasised the importance of serving those in need and equally urged parents to enhance their parenting roles by instilling self-discipline, good moral values, and cautioning against bad influence in their children.
According to her, they must ensure their children are raised in the way of God, with constant prayers for divine wisdom, guidance, and direction, for them to navigate their lives to success.
“Early in our children’s lives, we must impart self-discipline, good moral values, and constant admonition against waywardness and bad peer groups.
“Above all, we must raise them in the way of God, with constant prayers for divine wisdom, guidance, and direction, for them to navigate their lives to success,” Mrs Ambode said.
Reflecting on HOFOWEM’s impact on society, the former Lagos First Lady said the body was envisioned as a vehicle to extend a hand of help to someone in need, adding, “Little did I know that a tiny seed of hope sown into someone’s life would soon crystallise into a huge testimony, such as we are witnessing today.”
She highlighted that HOFOWEM had provided scholarships to Caroline and three other promising youths, all of whom graduated with First Class Honours, declaring that the body and herself were indeed proud of them all.
“HOFOWEM is proud of you all, and I am indeed very proud of you all too,” she said.
Mrs Ambode, therefore, urged youths, particularly girls, to emulate the Foundation’s beneficiaries and avoid rushing into risky and unnecessary intimate relationships that could derail their aspirations.
“Despite peer pressure, numerous social temptations on and off campus, and various challenges, Caroline and her colleagues stayed focused on their academic pursuits.
“They refused to be swayed, distracted, or led astray, dedicating all their attention and energy towards achieving their academic goals.
“Distinguished guests, my dear children here present—girls, boys, students, and youths—here is Caroline for you, as well as her colleagues, all products of proper reasoning, who made the necessary sacrifices first to enjoy a great life later. I celebrate you all,” she hailed the beneficiaries.
Earlier in her welcome address, the author, Oluwadare, noted that the book was intended to be a platform for creating awareness among teenagers and youths on sexual abstinence and effective ways of handling teenage pregnancy, which she described as a major social plague.
“The essence of today’s event extends beyond the immediate activities at this book launch. It is about the long-term impact on society and achieving our SDGs, Goals 1, 3, and 10, zero hunger, good health and well-being, and reduced inequality.
“It is about looking at the bigger picture, away from our mistakes and away from the present, which oftentimes seems hopeless and limiting,” she said.
The keynote speaker at the event, Mrs Juliet Obijiaku, in her remarks, encouraged girls to prioritise their career goals and personal development while avoiding intimate relationships that could derail their dreams.
She emphasised the importance of awareness campaigns to address teenage pregnancy and combat the stigma surrounding it.
Mrs Obijiaku also called for supportive environments and programmes to assist victims of teenage pregnancy.
She advocated for abstinence from sex as the primary solution for youths who wanted to achieve their dreams and career goals.
According to her, abstinence allows teenagers to focus on their education and personal development, providing the opportunity to establish their careers and futures before considering starting a family.
Speaking further, the keynote speaker pointed out that abstinence encourages self-control and self-respect and empowers teenagers to make choices aligned with their long-term goals.
The book reviewer, Mrs Toyin Olanrewaju, commended the author for doing justice to the subject matter with her style of writing, saying that the 152-page book didn’t only identify the problem but also offered solutions to the menace dragging the youth backwards.
She harped on the Zip Up campaign, urging youth who were already victims of teenage pregnancy to speak up instead of dying in silence.
Olarewaju also urged parents not to condemn victims of teenage pregnancy but to give them the courage to scale through the difficult time.
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