Hundreds of teen mothers are working towards a brighter future at a special school in Nigeria. The institution is beacon of hope in the country where one in five girls are pregnant or mothers.
00:00It was never my dream to get pregnant at a teenage level, even without getting married or anything.
00:14So I was really embarrassed. I was like ashamed of myself.
00:19Eberendulwe was 15 when her life took an unexpected turn.
00:24The daughter of a frail and unwell woman had to keep the family together.
00:28Then a young man came along, offering Eberendulwe help and tender connection, and she was taken in.
00:36When I met him, he was like, he's going to assist me in taking care of my family, on which I agree.
00:43Then I was following him. So during that process, I got pregnant.
00:49Eberendulwe and her mother were crushed.
00:51At that time, I was shocked because it pains me that the only child, the only girl child,
00:58they were hoping that it would be a blessing to me, that it would help me. God's pregnant.
01:03But Ndulwe's story became a rare thread of hope in Lagos, where thousands of young mothers faced rejection and broken dreams.
01:13The city's alternative school for girls and her mother's unwavering support helped her to pull through.
01:18The school was founded in 2007 to provide teen mothers with free education, vocational training and childcare the tools to rebuild their futures.
01:29Fellow student Noeli Ofolier was pregnant at 18.
01:33When I came to alternative high school for girls, I didn't even know how to speak English.
01:38But I still see how I cope with it, no matter anything. And by the grace of God, I started reading English very well.
01:47As for Fauzat Nuru, a very dark path led her to the school.
01:52My mom, she wants me to work and take care of her. So that was how I got raped.
01:57And the man which my mom handed me over to raped me, but I can't tell my mom because he told me that when I told my mom, my mom wouldn't believe me.
02:07My plan for the future is when I finish, I'll use my skills to make money too.
02:12I'm already making money with my skills that I learned from alternative anywhere.
02:16Stakeholders in this Lagos school are keen to set up more institutions of its kind.
02:21This school is not just the normal teaching and learning.
02:25We also relate much emphasis on skill acquisition.
02:29Lagos State is not just looking at that one school.
02:33They are looking at a way they can, you know, establish the same school in each of these places.
02:42So that those teenage girls over there too will benefit.
02:46After all, some 20% of Nigerian girls between 15 and 19 are in the process of childbearing.
02:54So, they are very important, they are always conveying the same as the same as the same as the same as the same as the same as the childbearing.
02:55We're ready to be thrilled.
02:56Most resources are really critical to the same as the childbearing.
02:57We are nowándome they will see the same as the same as the childbearing.
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