He told me he loved me… Now I am pregnant. But he wouldn’t pick my calls anymore. He said I ruined his plans. How about my plans?
This and many more scenarios of regret are what countless girls in Nigeria face today. At a young age, teenage promiscuity and pregnancy remain pressing social and health challenges. Many girls are already victims, and many more will be if urgent action is not taken.
A recent article by The Guardian shows that nearly 15–19% of adolescent girls are already mothers or pregnant, with consequences rippling across education, health, and poverty cycles. UNICEF data further indicates that Nigeria has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates globally, with approximately 400,000 unplanned births annually—about 200,000 of them among girls aged 15–19.
The popular phrase ‘Olosho’ a street slang revolving around promiscuity and commercial sex has become alarmingly common among teenagers as young as 12–15 years. This points to the imminent degradation of self-value and self-worth among the teenagers. An article by appliedworldwide.com recently highlighted a sharp increase in reported cases of teenage pregnancy among girls as young as 10 years old, underscoring the severity of early sexual activity and exploitation.
In response, CALPS Children Foundation is launching a project targeting promiscuity, pregnancy and sex education for teenagers in Southwest Nigeria. This cross-impact initiative will engage schools, communities, parents, and guardians to confront this crisis head-on.
The future of Nigeria depends on the protection and empowerment of its children. Teenage pregnancy is not just a personal tragedy it is a national emergency that robs girls of their dreams and society of its potential. Every child deserves the chance to grow, to learn, and to thrive without being shackled by exploitation or premature motherhood. CALPS Children Foundation stands as a beacon of hope, but this fight requires collective responsibility. Together, we must rewrite the story of the Nigerian girl child from one of regret and lost opportunities to one of dignity, education, and boundless possibility.
Join us! Let’s work together to build the bright future our children deserve.
O.A Daniel
CALPS Children Foundation
Executive Director