Why I am Promoting Virginity

Phina Ofure

With a degree in Economics, you’ll expect Phina Ofure to be juggling figures on global economy. No! Ofure is dedicated to a cause. She’s committed to promoting virginity among young girls. A social entrepreneur, fashion designer and an on-air personality combined, she talks with OLAMIDE AHMED on why her organisation, "Virginhood" is encouraging chastity among Nigerian girls

What is your background?

My name is Phina Ofure Owobu Akhimien. I am the second child of a large polygamous family. I am the only child from my mother to my father and I am from

Uromi, Edo State, I had my early education in Uromi/Warri  and from there I  moved to Rivers State for my university education.  I became a mother as an undergraduate while at the University of Port Harcourt where I studied Economics. I had planned to have 10 kids (nine girls and a boy) because my love for kids is unexplainable.  But today am blessed with 4 girls and a boy. (Somehow my dreams still came true). I grew up in a large family of mostly cousins but I was closer to my grandmother who lived with us till she died and she somehow made me to be what I am today.

How did you come up with the idea of promoting virginity among young girls in a country like Nigeria with so much of western influence?

Coming up with the virgin-hood idea and most importantly making it a reality has been God Almighty. First, let me quickly make a correction here, Virgin-hood is not a business, but it gave birth to many businesses.  Sometimes I pinch myself to be sure am not day dreaming, but fortunately it’s not a dream, and virgin-hood wasn't just an idea but a reality.  I didn't just think of it and started promoting it, instead virgin-hood has always been part of my life.  I remember vividly how we made vows, myself and about 4 of my friends made vows to be reverend sisters, (smiles) when  I was very  young in my primary school then at St. Anthony Primary School and right opposite my school was St Anthony Catholic church.  Back then, the catholic and Assemblies of God were the only churches in my community but the catholic was dominant, I was an altar girl, so charismatic. In fact I was into every society in the church, I read my Rosary every day. So way and lives of the white Reverend Sisters in the church was really fascinated to me and my friends that we started making vows that we'll be like them, but unfortunately none of us is a reverend sister today.

However, even as I got married I still remember that early vow. So that vow and the way our society decays as regards sexuality prompted me to start the campaign, and of course my love for the African value really pushed me to promote virgin-hood. I'm a real African woman, so that is what brought about the idea of virginhood.

How do you carry out your campaigns of chastity and the business side of Virgin-hood?

  I started promoting virgin-hood in schools, churches, orphanages and the rural communities not as a business because I wasn't selling anything. Indeed, I was even spending a lot because we are promoting chastity not necessarily to core virgins alone, but especially to youths who are already sexually exposed. For instance I always bring together young people of both sexes every Saturday for lectures on how to be better and grow up morally.  Along the line the demand from schools, churches and communities became too numerous that I had to think of how better to spread my message, how other people can hear the kind of stories I was hearing from youths and how to fund this idea. So the idea of a magazine came into my mind, I started publishing a magazine called  Virginhood Magazine but at a point I wasn't satisfied because I discovered the Nigerian reading culture wasn't encouraging at all and more horrible stories were coming to me that I needed people to hear too, unbelievable stories.

What was the attraction for you?

Like I said before virginhood isn't into any business but virginhood group has given birth to different office which now make return to sustain virginhood, businesses like Virgin-hood magazine, Virgin-stitches, which makes pure African clothes. There is also Miss Esan Cultural Beauty Pageant, which is an avenue where I talk only to the Edo girls on the disadvantages of prostitution.
There is also Getting Real With Phina, a  Tv Talk show that I host to promote and showcase the African culture. That is the show that gets you to see the real Phina. The whole setting is a reflection of my person as the studio itself is an Africa village and my hair must always be styled to portray an African lady.  Also most of the dresses I wear on the show are made of African prints. I tell you, there is no talk show on earth like GRWP (Getting Real With Phina).

When did virginhood group start?
Virginhood group started in 2003 but was registered in 2007 as an NGO but the talk show and clothing line came on board in 2008 with full operation in 2013 while the magazine started in 2009. 

Are you fulfilled by what you do?
Yes.  I have been fulfilled, because I have been able touch lives by God’s grace. I used to think I was nothing, but achieving all these I appreciate myself better now.

Why are you a social entrepreneur?
Doing something to touch and impact lives drives me, and I intend to do this for a very long time.

Have you ever had a situation you felt, you couldn’t go ahead?
Many times I have had situations where and when I would tell myself,  Phina don't deceive yourself this won't work but being a strong child of God I will say no, Philipians 4.13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, and whatever I am today that passage of the Bible is the magic that drives me.

Do you learn any lesson along the line?
The lessons I have learnt in my life that made me what I am today are from my environment, my journey in life, determination and God Almighty.

What Challenges do you face doing what you do?
The biggest challenge we are currently facing is the issue of sponsorship.  We do not have sponsors so far, not even adverts yet on our talkshow which is aired almost everywhere now in Nigeria. We are still looking for support but I wonder the kind of country we find ourselves, imagine you come up with a very beautiful project yet sponsorship is the issue, meanwhile Nigerians go as far as buying programmes from abroad, programme such as Mexican films, tell me what values these programmes are adding to our culture, what is it that our children get to gain from all foreign things?  After watching them you see our kids start to behave abnormally and the next thing they will tell you they are gay.

Do you have a role Model or someone with great influence upon your life?
I have influenced myself greatly.  The values I imbibed during my growing up years as a child impact on what I do and made me to be what I am today.  You can’t give what you don't have, what people see in you is a reflection of your inside.  I am African. What you see is the Africa in me, I don't give people what I don't have, the Nigerian woman has become too westernised so our children now copy us, how can you surround yourself with househelp to take care of your kids that you gave birth to yourself, how will you your kids or have a relationship with them. That’s why today’s children behave anyhow. The boys would plait hair and sag pants because our women don't breast feed anymore, we just give cow milks and say that settles it. That is why you see some of the children behaving almost like cows with bad character and irrational attitudes

What other plans do you have, looking into the future?
Every night before I sleep I just beg God to give me a dream some people call it vision, but everything I do today came to me while I sleep then I start to pray about it, oh God I can pray till whenever. Of course on my own I will work towards it but I have never really planned to do anything. I so much rely on God to supply all my needs according to His riches in glory, because if I plan and the plans are not from God, no matter how hard one try you can't achieve anything positive.

Many young graduates are waiting to be employed, how would you advise them?
Young people should learn to discover themselves and stop waiting on government for everything.  They should be bold to dream and follow their dreams.  

What are the benefits of being self-employed?
The benefits of being self employed are numerous especially as a married woman I have time for my family which comes first in everything I do, as a leader you are always challenged to be on top and most times you find yourself thinking for people, but don't forget that with all the benefits there are challenges that may even be more than the benefit, believe me.

source- This day