By Daniel Ekugo.
A non-governmental organization headquartered in Lagos, South west Nigeria, Heartminders Project, with specialties on Sex Education and Relationship will on October 15, 2015 at the Baptist Girls Academy in Obanikoro, Lagos State be mentoring over 700 teenagers, especially girls. This will be during the International Day of a Girl Child with the theme, “The Power of the Adolescent Girl – Vision 2030”.

According to the CEO of the NGO, Funke Oguntuga, “Every October 11, we observe the International Day of a Girl Child, unfortunately this year’s own fell on a Sunday, so we are celebrating it on the 15th with the Baptist Girls Academy. It is going to be a busy day as we will be mentoring over 700 girls on the UN theme of “The Power of the Adolescent Girl – Vision 2030.”

Many dignitaries have been lined up to speak to the teenagers on that day. These are Fumilayo Tejuosho, member, Lagos State House of Assembly representing Mushin Constituency; Funke Moore, Manager of Radio Lagos/Eko FM; Mercy Aigbe, an actress, entrepreneur and a teen mum, Ms Lola Sanusy, presenter of the talk show programme, The Lola Show and then Mrs Lara Odebiyi, publisher of Dabira Magazine.

With over 11,000 members and 900 in processing, the NGO, in 201, formed a youth group called Heartminders Youth Club, after it has successfully carried out mentoring to over 50 schools in Lagos state tagged Project Wise Up and still continuing to other schools.

“The Heartminders project was conceived with the aim of creating a better and healthier society by educating and providing reliable information proven to be effective in preventing HIV/AIDS infections, other STDs and unwanted pregnancies to youth, young adults and teenagers across the country through the power and reach of the electronic media and text messaging platforms. We work with psychologists, marriage counsellors, medical practitioners while mending relationships and marriages.” Oguntuga explained.