It was all joy at Ijegun and six other neighbouring communities under the Alimosho Local Government when Bestspring Children and Youth Development Foundation, a non-governmental organisation committed to holistic development of children and youth empowerment visited the area.
The programme, tagged 'Project C-YED, which is an acronym for Community Youth Empowerment and Development, came as an intervention outreach meant to empower the disadvantaged youth in the community and its environs.
The programme which was held at the Ijegun Town Hall had in attendance traditional chiefs, residents of the area, community youth organisations and the youths in attendance.
The President of the NGO, Mrs. Aramide Oikelome, said that the organisation was deeply concerned at the alarming spate of youth dropouts from school and teenage pregnancy as well as the level of poverty and idleness prevalent among the youth in the community.
Among other things, she said Bestspring was out to educate the youths in "the communities on reproductive health, sexually transmitted infectious and HIV/AIDS, even as it empowers them educationally and through skill acquisition initiatives"
She said, "We are in Ijegun to launch our Project C-YED. The project is an intervention outreach to indigent youths in Ijegun and six other neighbouring communities of Okeorube, Ijeododo, Isheri-Osun, Ijeagemo, Kudeibu and Fagbile under Alimosho Local Government. These communities are largely underdeveloped, flood-prone and poverty-stricken.
"We are deeply concerned at the increasing rate of male dropouts from school and teenage pregnancy, the excruciating poverty, idleness and sheer waste of youthful strength/talent due to ignorance and lack of vital information on reproductive health in these seven communities, which has led to the spread of STIs, HIV/AIDS amongst youths.
"We are set to educate the youths in these communities on reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. We are also set to empower the youths. We will assist them to acquire basic vocational skills and empower them with starting capital so they can fend for themselves."
The president also hinted that the organisation will mentor those that desire to go back to school "and assist them with scholarship as God provides for us," adding that even though they do not have "foreign partners" at the moment as they have to make do with their meager resources, they hope that help will come their way because according to her, "there is a lot of work to be done to reshape the lives of our youths and salvage them from the dregs of wastage and destruction".
Project Manager of the Foundation, Miss Olayinka Asubiaro, said the high rate of teenage pregnancy in the communities, will make them embark on "general training every Saturday for the next one year in this community. The youths will have opportunity to acquire various skills. Economically, we will empower many people in Ijegun and six other communities."
A medical doctor and member of the Board of Trustee of the foundation, Dr. Dapo Ayeni, enlightened the youths on reproductive health. He urged them to understand their physiological status. This, he said, will help them not to take actions or be involved in anything that could be inimical to their health.
He appealed to them to have goals for their lives, adding that they should pursue the goals to become whatever they desire in life such as political office holders, lawyers, doctors and so on. He also enjoined ladies to avoid teenage pregnancy so that they can get to the top.
Earlier, Chairman, Ijegun Central CDA, High Chief Kabiru Mustapha submitted that the high rate of teenage pregnancy in Ijegun was an index of home training. If a man can handle his family properly, I don't think there would be such things.
He said, "The coming of the Bestspring Foundation to Ijegun is well appreciated. This programme is very nice one. I pray that God will continue help this foundation so that it will continue to impact positively on the people. The youths should maximise the opportunities brought to the community by the foundation."
While Miss Esther Pieterse, Future Hope Orphanage Home, Germany Wing, who was in the country when the programme was organised praised the Foundation for giving scholarships to the children of the Future Hope Orphanage Home, Ijegun, Lagos.
She said, "Ijegun is at the crossroad now, it is either they go the good way and develop solidarity, they develop the community, or they go the other way and breed more criminals in Lagos. But with what I have seen so far in Ijegun, people have hope and they are strong believers.
"What I have seen is that they have to struggle because they have hope in one hand and then on the other hand, they have to live with so many obstacles and pains in their daily lives. I am in Nigeria because we want to build an orphanage in Ogun State for 63 children. Honestly, there is too much poverty, especially street children that have lost their parents. It is an enormous danger for the society as well. If you just leave them on their own, they would be lost and 90 per cent of them would probably become criminals."
Madam Foyeke Alayande led members of the Morning Star Society of the Yaba Baptist Church, Lagos to the programme. The society donated some gift items to members of the community. She commended the foundation for the initiative.
The youths in attendance welcomed the initiative, even as the promised to leverage on the opportunity to become better citizens. One of those that responded to the foundation gesture. Mr. Funware Pepper, a student, said the foundation has come to liberate them from illiteracy and as a breakthrough to the youths in Ijegun.
Miss Esther Seidu, an ex-student seeking admission to tertiary institution advised young girls to "say no to sex which can lead to teenage pregnancy. I will not involve myself in any relationship for now because relationship nowadays leads to sex. I will keep myself till after my wedding. It is not bad to have a relationship but you need to say NO to sex."
For Miss Folake Adewumi, 20, a secondary school leaver, it is important for youths to keep themselves from teenage pregnancy because of the shame associated with it. "I am making a commitment that I will not indulge in sexual relationship until after my wedding. Boys have been running after me but I won't go into relationship with them."
Miss Bukola Olawale extolled Bestspring Foundation for the relevance of Project C-YED to youths. "Personally I have observed that so many youths are getting pregnant in this community. The causes of the pregnancy range from idleness, lack of home training and stubbornness. Many youths don't know anything about their reproductive health."
Mr. Abdul-Azeez Oluwafemi said he did not have the time to go into relationship with a girl because his education was his priority.
Bestspring Foundation also seized the opportunity to present the second leg of scholarship awards to pupils of Future Hope Orphanage, Ijegun.
