The Role of Libraries in Curbing Teenage Pregnancy in Nigeria

Abstract

Teenage Pregnancy is fast becoming a regular trend today in Nigeria. This is due to the fact that most parents still feel it is absurd to educate their children on sex education. As a result of this most teenagers learn about sex education through their peers, mass media, etc. Due to the low level of knowledge of these teenagers on sex education, the level of teenage pregnancy tends to be on the increase. The library as an institution therefore has the responsibility to provide information contained in information materials of various format to the target group in order to curb the challenge of teenage pregnancy. The Federal Government, Nigerian Library Association and other stake holders need to collaborate to establish school libraries and public libraries where they are nonexistent and revitalize these libraries where they are existing but not functional. These libraries should also carry out their function thoroughly by collaborating with Non- governmental Organizations (NGOs) to organize programs that will serve as a form of orientation to teenagers on teenage pregnancy and how it can be avoided.