Project_Inspire Interview With Okolo Ikechukwu

Confronted with multiple cases of teenage pregnancy at his primary place of assignment as a youth corps member, Okolo Ikechukwu knew that something had to be done to change the prevailing narrative in his host community. This realization led him to launch a teenage pregnancy prevention advocacy program that culminated in the establishment of Milecent Foundation. In this interview with Project_Inspire, Okolo Ikechukwu shares his story of impact. 

PROJECT_INSPIRE: Can we meet you?

  Ikechukwu:I am Okolo Ikechukwu, 32 years old from Enugu state. 

  PROJECT_INSPIRE: Tell us briefly about your childhood? 

  Ikechukwu: I had a rough childhood in the creeks of Onitsha. Hawking and scavenging were part of my childhood journey and I believe that, that experience helped shaped me into a better person. 

PROJECT_INSPIRE:What is your educational background like? 

  Ikechukwu:I had my primary school education at Alheri Mortune Memorial School, secondary school education at Christ The King College, Kezz Foundation schools and St Charles Special School all in Onitsha. In 2007, I got admitted to study medical radiography at the University of Maiduguri. After my bachelor’s degree, I pursued a post-graduate diploma in business and entrepreneurship at the Fate Foundation Business Academy. 

  PROJECT_INSPIRE: What are your contributions towards making Nigeria a better place? 

  Ikechukwu: As a youth corps member serving at a primary health centre, Ita Elewa, Ikorodu, I witnessed firsthand over 23 cases of teenage pregnancy within three months (October – December 2017) at the health centre. These teen mothers were under 16 years of age. I felt the need not to turn a blind eye to this reality. I knew I had to do something and so I began to carry out advocacy programs on teenage pregnancy in the community and that was the beginning of what we have today as Milecent Foundation. Milecent Foundation is a structured, non-for-profit, non-governmental organization with the mission to improve the overall wellbeing of individuals and communities especially in the areas of health, sex and lifestyle to promote healthy living and engage in shared prosperity for all.

  PROJECT_INSPIRE: What have your achievements been? 

  Ikechukwu: Our teenage pregnancy prevention advocacy program have directly reached 31,590 teenagers across 42 secondary schools, 3 seminars, 4 churches and 8 communities. We have conducted free medical diagnosis on over 11,233 beneficiaries across 17 communities in Lagos and Ogun States of Nigeria During the COVID-19, in partnership with Lagos Foodbank Initiative, we distributed food items worth one million,six hundred thousand naira to 301 families across Ikorodu. 

  PROJECT_INSPIRE: What has been your challenges since you began your non-profit?

  Ikechukwu: Two major challenges have been funding and visibility. However, we understand that it takes both hard work and time to achieve good results. 

  PROJECT_INSPIRE: Share with us one or two experiences that you have had in your journey that has really impacted you. 

  Ikechukwu: My first local fellowship really impacted me, I got this local fellowship and there were a lot of drilling and assignments given to us. When I graduated from the 6months fellowship, it made a huge impact on me and shaped me into a better change maker.

  PROJECT_INSPIRE: Many young people have great ideas but the finances are always a stumbling block, what will your advice be in this regard?

  Ikechukwu: I will always tell young people, "START FIRST ". Ideas are not fully formed until you start working on them. It is true that funding poses a huge challenge but there is no dearth of opportunities. The more you keep at what you are doing and do it sincerely and excellently, you will meet the right opportunities. But you have to start first. 

  PROJECT_INSPIRE: How has the reaction of people especially fellow young people been like when they see you doing what you do and how have you always responded to them?

  Ikechukwu: People will always doubt you at first but when you keep doing the good work, you will turn doubters to believers. Many young people are impressed by the work I do. I get complements and criticisms. I energize on the compliments and take corrections on the criticisms. 

  PROJECT_INSPIRE: How have you been able to raise funds to implement your ideas? 

  Ikechukwu: We fundraise for our projects and have also won a few grants. 

  PROJECT_INSPIRE: What are your prospects in the next 5-10years? 

  Ikechukwu: I look forward to setting up healthcare innovation hubs across Nigeria to make diagnosis accessible to everyone irrespective location and status.

  PROJECT_INSPIRE: The final word for the Nigerian youth.

  Ikechukwu: Keep your dreams alive, keep pushing and never give up. 

  PROJECT_INSPIRE: Thank you for sharing your story with us 

Ikechukwu: It’s my pleasure