A Cross River State-based Non-Governmental Organisation, Her Voice Foundation, says it has supported about 500 out-of-school adolescent girls in the state to return to school.

The Founder, Favour Abatang, stated this at the launch of its Girls to Women: Stronger, Bolder project” in Calabar on Tuesday.

Ms Abatang said that many adolescent girls in Cross River Abatanghad dropped out of school due to the stigma of early pregnancy.

She said the project was targeted at eliminating the stigma that forced young mothers out of school, and limited their future opportunities.

“Pregnancy should not end a girl’s education, but stigma, rejection and lack of support keep many willing learners away from school,” she said.

The founder further said that the NGO was offering re-enrolment supports, counselling, mentorship and life-skills training to adolescent girls.

“So far we have reached out to no fewer than 500 girls, including 350 in second-chance education and 150 in entrepreneurship skills,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Margaret Eneji, 17,  said that the programme helped her to return to school after an early pregnancy at age 15.

“I was abandoned by family and friends, but this programme has given me literacy, numeracy education, and renewed my dream of becoming a nurse,” she stated.

A community leader in Ablesang, Obanliku Local Government Area, Shikishong Jeremiah, said that the programme had changed his views about life and girl child education.

“I am now helping to mobilise parents, I am personally encouraging families to keep their daughters in school no matter the mistakes they may have made,” he said.

Community leaders say the implementation of the project in Obudu, Bekwarra and Obanliku Local Government Areas, has changed the mentality of families towards girl child education.

(NAN)