The Founder and Executive Director of the Mother of Good Counsel Initiative (MOGCI), Lady Doris Onyeneke, PhD, has raised concerns over the growing vulnerability of the girl-child to early sexual activity, poverty, cultism, kidnapping, and other social vices.
Onyeneke called for concerted efforts by parents, communities, government agencies and other stakeholders to protect girls and promote their sexual and reproductive health rights.
She spoke on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, when MOGCI visited the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Port Harcourt as part of preparations for a pre-summit dialogue on the theme, “Sexual and Reproductive Health and Sustainable Development: The Nexus.”
According to her, cultural practices, poverty and inadequate parental supervision had contributed to the challenges confronting girls and young women in some communities.
She said some parents were unable to provide adequate training, supervision and support for their children, leaving young girls vulnerable to negative influences and circumstances capable of jeopardising their future.
Onyeneke identified poverty as one of the factors pushing some young girls into early sexual relationships, adding that parental negligence, inadequate upbringing and peer-group influence could further worsen the situation.
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She noted that the challenges extended beyond sexual and reproductive health, as vulnerable young people could also be exposed to cultism, kidnapping, theft and violent conflicts when deprived of adequate parental care, education and positive opportunities.
The MOGCI president called for stronger community-based interventions and partnerships among organisations working to protect women and children.
She said the organisation was seeking collaboration with the NUJ to strengthen advocacy and public enlightenment on sexual and reproductive health rights, gender-based violence and other issues affecting vulnerable children and young people.
Onyeneke also stressed the importance of responsible parenthood, urging families to consider the number of children they could adequately cater for, train and provide with the necessities of life.
She said proper upbringing must begin at home, urging parents to deliberately monitor their children, understand their challenges and provide the emotional and moral support needed as they grow.
She further advocated sustained engagement with young people, noting that effective communication between parents and children could reduce their vulnerability to negative peer influence.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of the NUJ, Comrade Paul Bazia, thanked MOGCI for its consistency in advocacy over the past 15 years.
Bazia said the organisation had remained committed to issues affecting women, children and vulnerable members of society.
He noted that advocacy had become more challenging with the emergence of social media, which had increased the speed at which information, including harmful content, was circulated.
The NUJ chairman stressed the need for credible institutions to intensify public enlightenment and strengthen efforts to protect the girl-child.
He assured MOGCI of the council’s willingness to explore areas of partnership that would promote informed public discourse and amplify campaigns addressing sexual and reproductive health challenges.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and Treasurer of the MOGCI Board, Dr Vetty Agala, identified poverty, ignorance, inadequate information, misinformation, lack of discipline and moral decadence as factors contributing to adolescent sexual and reproductive health challenges.
Agala said early involvement in sexual behaviour could expose teenagers to sexually transmitted infections and early pregnancy.
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She said MOGCI’s 15th anniversary activities included a sexual and reproductive health and rights summit, adding that the organisation had approached the NUJ to seek partnership in disseminating accurate information on sexual and gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and trafficking.
According to her, the objective was not merely to discuss the challenges but to identify their underlying causes and use the media to provide people with information on prevention, available support services and appropriate interventions.
Agala said MOGCI also planned to explore the use of press clubs in schools to teach children basic knowledge about their bodies, assertiveness and life skills that could help protect them from abuse and other sexual and reproductive health challenges.
She said the proposed collaboration would target pupils and students, parents, schools, relevant government ministries and other institutions responsible for policy and enforcement.
The stakeholders agreed that addressing poverty, parental negligence, ignorance and harmful social influences, while strengthening family guidance, life-skills education and collaboration among relevant organisations, could contribute to protecting girls and advancing sustainable development in Rivers State.
