Dan Opara
In their bids to fight against teenage pregnancy,prostitution and baby factory businesses in Imo State,a group of Non-Governmental Organizations ably known as “Teens Connect International Center,TCIC”,in Owerri,on Tuesday May 21th 2019,successfully held a-one-day-awareness workshop for the children (teenagers) of Imo West Senatorial District (Orlu zone extraction) of Imo State,under the sponsorship and leadership of Niger Delta Development Commission,NDDC,with the theme:”I am priceless,thank you NDDC”.
Speaking to newsmen,the Executive Director of Teens Connect International,Mrs.Mimi Ugorji,expressed delight for the successes and breakthrough so far recorded in the organization under her watch,even as she described TICI as group all about young boys-girls optimal life mobilization aimed at growing Nigerian children ( teens) between the ages of 12-19 in the right way that would please the Lord,so as to educate and enlighten on the needs to avoid unwanted pregnancy,prostitution,baby factory businesses that is very rampant in Imo State,especially in the Imo West Senatorial District of the State.
“The programme is for the benefits of our teenagers,to put them in the right directions,we don’t want them to fall victim of such social vices in the society.Through our platform in collaboration with NDDC we are poised to engage them into quality skill acquisition programme. Those deserious to go to schools,would be sponsored”,Executive Director assured.
Adding her voice,Miss Cynthia Nwaeze,called for more awareness to be created so as to educate the children in the society.
She therefore stated that the programme which was slated for all the teenagers in Imo West and all the teens in the state to assist them desist from such evil,even as she insisted that more awareness should be created concerning curbing of teenage pregnancy,prostitution and baby factory business in the state.
Miss Nwaeze,however appealed to the government to make a law against teenage pregnancy.
Also,the Principal Mentor of TCIC,Mrs.Nancy Iheduru,expressively commended all the children in attendance as participants and enjoined them to put all they have learnt into practice.
The Principal Mentor,further disclosed that the organization was discovered and formed in 2012 to change children orientation of lives,to create value into Boys Optimal Life Development,BOLD, and Girls Optimal Life Development,GOLD,to have peaceful and lovely society especially in Nigeria at large,in Niger-Delta Region of the country and in Imo State.
Meanwhile,according to the TCIC mission,which is to motivate,coach and support positive change in the teenagers by building their individual capacity in selected life application modules,whereas the vision is a world where every adolescent would have the right capacity to achieve their maximum potentials in life.
It was also gathered that TCIC Programme Thrust Areas incluedes:leadership and good character development,advocacy and support services,education promotion,culture and creativity. Other thrust areas are:the adolescent enterprise and technology development and adolescent health care promotion,amongst others to mention afew.
