Concern over the rising incidence of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortion practices among young girls has continued to attract attention in Delta State and across Nigeria.
In response, a Non-Governmental Organisation, BenJoy Foundation, has unveiled a purpose-built care facility known as the Rehoboth Pro-Life Home, designed to support pregnant girls and protect vulnerable children.
The facility is located at Opete in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.
The home was established by Dr Benson Ikini and Mrs Joyce Ikini through the BenJoy Foundation and is duly registered with the Delta State Government.
Under the Rehoboth Pro-Life Initiative, the foundation provides temporary accommodation, counselling, healthcare support, and empowerment programmes for girls with unintended pregnancies.
Beneficiaries are supported to continue their education or acquire vocational skills, enabling them to reintegrate into society after delivery.
Available statistics indicate that between 1.8 million and 2.7 million abortions occur annually in Nigeria, representing an estimated 41 to 46 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age between 15 and 49 years.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Chairman of the BenJoy Foundation, Dr Benson Ikini, said the initiative reflects his and his wife’s commitment to offering practical support to girls facing crisis pregnancies.
He noted that the programme was conceived to provide alternatives that preserve life while addressing the social and economic challenges confronting young mothers.
Dr Ikini, who was represented by the Administrator of the Rehoboth Pro-Life Home, Pastor Emmanuel Inuru, explained that the initiative also focuses on rescuing abandoned babies, providing holistic childcare, and promoting public awareness on the value of human life through community outreach and advocacy.
The Legal Adviser to the Rehoboth Orphanage and Pro-Life Initiative, Mr Andrew Elekeokwuri, clarified that the facility operates as a faith-based welfare home for pregnant girls and their children, stressing that it is not a commercial adoption or baby-selling centre.
In their goodwill messages, the keynote speaker, Mrs Beatrice Amagoh, and the Vicar of St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Ugbolokposu, Reverend Canon Joseph Imudje, commended the founders for their resolve to address unsafe abortion practices and called for partnerships to strengthen the initiative.
Guests at the event expressed optimism that the establishment of the Rehoboth Pro-Life Home would help reduce unsafe abortions among young girls in the area.
They appealed to the Delta State Government to support the initiative, particularly through the construction of access roads leading to the facility.
A beneficiary of the BenJoy Foundation also testified during the event, stating that support from the foundation enabled him to complete his education and graduate from the university.
The unveiling ceremony featured musical and cultural performances by children of the Rehoboth Orphanage, as well as a special presentation by Mrs Beatrice Amagoh.
