International Forum Large Family and Future of Humanity. Interview with Theresa Okafor, Director of Foundation for African Cultural Heritage, Nigeria

by Stiripentruviata.ro

What is the personal reason that made you get involved in the pro-life movement?
I got involved in the pro-life movement when I realized that there was a lot of deception filtering into my country, Nigeria. Nigeria is a country with many young people and I know that, with a lot of population, we are also experiencing a lot of economic growth. Because children actually have a huge contribution to the welfare of a nation.

So, as a witness to the country’s growing economically, and its population growing, we’re also witnessing on the other hand some influences trying to control our population using a set of lies such as maternal mortality and blaming it on the fact that women do not have the right to their body. And I could not understand the connection. It just didn’t add up. Because maternal mortality, as we are fully aware of, has to do with misinformation of birth attendance, has to do with resources in the hospital, has to do with sepsis – you know, infections – and has nothing to do with rights over one’s body.

And rights, when they’re no more treated with responsibility, are devastating on the woman. So I felt that I wouldn’t sit back and witness this raw deal for women.

Also, I realized that people were trying to take advantage of the vulnerability of many women, selling contraception to African women without even telling them about the devastating side effects. Then, on the other hand, they are trying to make them believe that, you know, the only way to resolve issues with your husband, the only way to get even with your husband was by being confrontational, you know. And I really feel that that was really taking things to the limit. Because obviously it is important to understand that equality is important, but equality is not uniformity! There’s a need for a relational approach.

So you see, that’s why I’ve decided to get involved, to see how it’s possible to expose these lies and make people realize the consequences of these new trends and new normalcy that was being filtered into the country.

What are your thoughts and expectations coming at this International Forum on Large Family and Future of Humanity?
I’ve come to this forum because I like to collaborate with like-minded persons and I see that Russia has changed from what it was in the past, Russia is very supportive of family and I feel that there’s a need for all of us, like-minded persons to really get together and collaborate a lot more and make people realize the importance of large family, the importance of pro-life approach to these issues and the importance of holding back the culture of death.

What is your message for Romanian families?
First of all, pregnancy is not a disease. A child is the economic agent of the future. Every government has a duty to protect life at its very nascient form, from conception up until natural death. And the family is important, because it is the bedrock of society. And so it’s important to protect the natural family, which we define as a union between a man and a woman. So, if the natural family is protected, then there are chances for the country to grow. Because family is the school of virtue and that is the only way to safeguard the country, the morale of a country and the future of the next generation.