A powerful and deeply engaging symposium by the "Women’s Voices in Focus" on "Teenage Unwanted Pregnancies and Their Impact on Communities" which took place on November 23rd, 2025, at the Nigerian Army Conference and Suites, Asokoro (NACASS) in Abuja, drawing together women, youth advocates, policymakers, and community leaders for a transformative conversation on teenage pregnancy and its impact on families and communities.
The event, convened by Abaji Maimuna Yahaya—an actor, movie producer, mother, and passionate advocate for women and youth—created a safe and reflective platform to address the realities surrounding unwanted teenage pregnancies. Featuring insightful discussions, first-hand testimonies, and expert perspectives, the symposium emphasized prevention, support systems, and responsible decision-making among young people.
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Speaking during the event, Yahaya explained her motivation and the role of storytelling in shaping social change. “I have a platform that I can use to talk and change the narrative where necessary. As an actor, I produce impactful movies because we want people to learn lessons. We don’t just wake up and write a script—we listen, engage, and tell real stories,” she said.
She revealed that the symposium forms part of the research and community engagement process for her upcoming advocacy movie on teenage pregnancy, which will be produced in Abuja. The film aims to highlight the realities faced by teenagers, families, and communities, drawing from real-life stories gathered both within and outside the FCT.
Yahaya noted that many victims of teenage pregnancy suffer in silence due to stigma, shame, and fear of societal judgment. “Sometimes women encourage people to hide it because they feel embarrassed or disgraced. But if it does happen, it’s not a death sentence. Count your losses and ask yourself where to start from. You can be better afterwards,” she encouraged.
The symposium also featured a special interview with Senator Ned Nwoko, who called for legislative measures to discourage early sexual activity. He highlighted examples from countries where such laws help reduce teenage pregnancy. Yahaya, who questioned the practicality of such laws, said the conversation provided deeper insight into diverse viewpoints and the need for collective action.
She emphasized that the forthcoming movie will serve as an educational resource targeted at schools and youth groups.
“It’s an advocacy movie. We will take it around, teach teenagers—boys and girls—that they must be responsible for their actions. If a boy impregnates a girl, he becomes a father and should learn to cater. Parents should support, not discard their children,” she added.
Speaking to Journalists, Mr Adejo Ibrahim said that the dialogue, though themed as a "Teenage Unwanted Pregnancies and Their Impact on Communities", provided a crucial platform to address pressing issues affecting women, girls, children and other vulnerable groups.
He said the central focus was teenage pregnancy—an issue they described as a major societal challenge linked to poor parenting, child molestation, victimisation and growing social dysfunction. Speakers emphasised that teenage pregnancy carries long-term psychosocial consequences and noted that no child or family willingly desires such an experience.
According to a SpyeTV News report, attendees expressed satisfaction with the depth of engagement and the range of activities offered at the event. These included lessons from inspiring keynote speakers, interactive panel sessions, empowerment and skill-building workshops, and networking opportunities with influential women.
Participants also highlighted the value of collaborations aimed at empowering women and children, alongside opportunities to donate branded items that further enhanced visibility and community support.
With an impressive attendance of about 1,000 guests, the symposium successfully laid the groundwork for ongoing advocacy and action. Stakeholders noted that allowing teenage students to participate in future editions would provide young people with firsthand knowledge and preventive education.
The event also featured the premiere of the movie Traditions, a production set to reinforce key themes discussed at the symposium and extend the conversation beyond the conference hall.
Participants left the symposium with a renewed understanding of the realities of teenage pregnancy and a strengthened commitment to fostering communities that support prevention, compassion, and responsible choices.
The event reaffirmed the power of dialogue—and of film—in driving social change and empowering young people to make informed decisions about their future.