By Habeeb Ibrahim
What started as a routine sanitary distribution exercise for girls on the streets of Awoyaya, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, turned into a months-long intervention after Fatima Chinwendu Abegunde-Yakubu encountered a pregnant young woman who needed help.
Fatima, a school administrator, counsellor, youth mentor and advocate for vulnerable children and young people, said she was carrying out her regular monthly sanitary distribution when a woman on the street drew her attention to Precious, a young pregnant woman living in difficult circumstances.
That encounter would eventually lead Fatima to become involved in Precious’ journey through pregnancy, childbirth and her eventual reunion with a family member.
Fatima said her first reaction was not to immediately take on the responsibility.
She considered walking away from the situation, especially because of the uncertainty surrounding what she could realistically do to help.
“My human self wanted to ‘take off ooo’,” she said.
But she eventually asked herself what would happen to Precious if nobody intervened.
“If we don’t intervene, who will and what will become of her?” she said.
That question pushed her to stay involved.
Fatima began checking on Precious and following her situation. As the pregnancy progressed, she continued looking for ways to provide support.
Weeks later, Precious had to undergo a Caesarean Section.
Faced with the cost and other demands surrounding the procedure, Fatima began reaching out to family members and friends for assistance.
She said the response was limited, with only about 20 per cent of those she contacted eventually reaching out to support the intervention.
Despite this, Fatima continued with the effort, combining the contributions she received with her own resources.
According to her, the required support was eventually raised and Precious was able to go through the procedure.
Today, both Precious and her baby are doing well.
Following the delivery, Fatima also helped reconnect Precious with her maternal aunt, who came to take responsibility for her.
The aunt has agreed to stay with Precious for a period, although she is also dealing with challenges within her own family. After some time, Precious is expected to return to her hometown as originally planned.
For Fatima, the experience became more than an individual act of assistance. She said the way she approached the situation was influenced by her years of volunteering and working with vulnerable young people through School In The Street.
Fatima is a board member of School In The Street and said her experience with the organisation has shaped the way she responds to vulnerable people, particularly children and young people living or spending significant periods of their lives on the streets.
She said one of the major lessons she learnt was not to give up on someone simply because their situation appears difficult.
“I learnt you don’t give up on anyone, and make sure you put in your best to resolve any issue,” she said.
According to her, the experience with Precious reinforced another lesson she has carried from her work with vulnerable people: an individual may become an important source of hope to someone going through a difficult period.
“You might be the light in someone’s tunnel. So just do your best,” she said.
Fatima said her involvement with vulnerable young people did not begin with the case of Precious.
Over the years, she has had opportunities to speak with girls living on the streets, counsel them and support efforts to reintegrate them into society or reconnect them with their families.
She has also intervened in cases involving domestic violence against children and abuse of domestic workers, helping some affected young people reconnect with their families.
Her work is closely connected to her professional and personal interests in education, youth development, mentoring and community engagement.
As a school administrator, Fatima coordinates the day-to-day running of a school and works with management, staff, pupils and parents to maintain what she describes as a safe and supportive learning environment.
Outside her professional responsibilities, however, she remains focused on vulnerable children, teenagers and young people whose circumstances may limit their opportunities.
Fatima said her passion for this work comes from the belief that a person’s current circumstances should not permanently determine their identity or future.
She said her foundation in this area came through her volunteering experience with School In The Street, which exposed her to the realities faced by street-connected children and young people.
She currently does not run an organisation of her own but continues to use her personal network and connections to support vulnerable people while working alongside School In The Street.
For Fatima, the experience with Precious also demonstrated that intervention does not always require a large organisation or significant resources.
In this case, it started with a routine outreach, an unexpected encounter and a decision not to walk away.
What followed was a combination of personal effort, support from family and friends, medical assistance and continued follow-up that ultimately saw a mother and her newborn baby safely through a difficult period.
Fatima described the outcome as a victory, not only for herself but also as a reflection of the lessons she has learnt through her work with vulnerable young people.
Precious and her baby are now doing well, while Fatima continues to describe the experience as a reminder of the difference that can be made when someone chooses to intervene rather than look away.
