Chief Dayo Olatunji is the Head Chief of Lajoke community in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State. He has more than five wives and records an average of two births every year.
Just like Chief Dayo’s wives, the women in Lajoke community give birth frequently without proper spacing. They often have more children than they can comfortably cater for.
Chief Dayo did not plan to have too many children but found himself caught in the web. He notes, “The way we reproduce in this community has been a cause of concern to me being the community leader. I have not shown very good example too. I have more than five wives who regularly give birth to children. Two births at least are recorded every year in my family. It has been so for the past four years and this has given me much concern.”
When Marie Stopes visited his community and met with him, he was educated on different family planning methods. “When Marie Stopes came to my community, they wanted to see the community leader. I made myself available and to my surprise, they came with a solution to my concern. They cleared every misconception I had on family planning. I am happy I will not need to record another birth in my family by chance.”
Chief Dayo supported his wives to attend counselling and they took up family planning methods of their choice.
