Rita’s Story
Sixteen-year-old Rita, a junior secondary school dropout, recently made national headlines after abandoning her 1-year-4-month-old son Wisdom in an uncompleted building. The incident has sparked conversations about teen parenting, poverty, and systemic failures in Kaduna State.
Early Trauma
Rita lost her mother at age three and was raised by a maternal family friend (“Grandma”), a 60-year-old former civil servant who lost her government job during Nasir El-Rufai’s administration. Grandma now earns ₦10,000 monthly as a hospital casual worker – an income insufficient for basic transportation needs.
The Pregnancy
At 15, Rita became pregnant by an older neighborhood man who threatened to kill her if she exposed him. Grandma opposed abortion despite her limited means: “Having lost my only son decades ago, I couldn’t endorse ending a life.”
Failed Responsibilities
Recent events unfolded when:
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- Rita left Grandma’s home for a friend’s house in Ungwan Sunday
- Attempted to relocate to Abuja for a ₦40k/month job
- Returned Wisdom to Grandma, who couldn’t accommodate him
- The father violently rejected paternity during confrontation
The Abandonment
In a desperate bid to force paternal responsibility, Rita:
- Wrapped Wisdom in clothing
- Deposited him at an uncompleted building
- Endured sleepless nights imagining rescue scenarios
“Every cry I imagined cut deeper than knives,” Rita confessed through tears.
Aftermath
Following community intervention:
✅ Wisdom was safely recovered
✅ Rita received severe corporal punishment from uncles
✅ Local advocates intervened for rehabilitation
Path Forward
The teen now demonstrates remorse and ambition: - Skilled hairdresser seeking apprenticeship
- Fluent communicator despite educational gaps
- Committed to reuniting with Wisdom under supervision
Community supporters emphasize: “This isn’t just Rita’s failure – it’s our collective responsibility. From the predatory father to systemic poverty, multiple layers enabled this crisis.”
Key Issues Highlighted
| Challenge | Manifestation |
|---|---|
| Poverty | ₦10k monthly income for caregiver |
| Education | Junior WAEC dropout |
| Gender Violence | Predatory impregnation & threats |
| System Gaps | No social safety nets for teen mothers |
| *Name changed for minor protection | |
