Shy and reserved, Itopa usually immerses herself in her studies. After meeting Maryann, a Tiko mobiliser, Itopa’s confidence has grown, helping her realise that her ambition to become a nurse is not just a dream.

The first time Itopa treated someone who was unwell, the moment stayed with her.

It was a small act of care, but for the 19-year-old it felt like confirmation of the future she imagines for herself.

“That made me feel powerful,” she says.

Itopa is from Kogi State in Nigeria but now lives in the community of Jikwoyi. She spends much of her time reading and focusing on her studies.

“I’m always indoors,” she explains. “I don’t really go out.”

“I feel shy when there are many people around,” she says.

Yet behind that quietness is a clear ambition.  Itopa hopes to become a nurse.

Part of that ambition comes from her interest in learning and reading. One of the books she remembers reading recently is The Lucky Headmaster, which she studied while preparing for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination.

Beyond her personal goals, Itopa is also aware of the challenges many girls face in the community around her.

“I see many girls with pregnancies,” she says. “That’s the main problem I notice.”

When Tiko began operating in the community, she says it immediately caught her attention.

“I was very excited,” she says. “It helped reduce the rate of teen pregnancies and also prevent diseases like HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.”

Through Tiko, she met Maryann, the peer mobiliser who introduced her to the services.

“When I first saw her, she was a nice person,” Itopa says. Their conversations gradually changed how she saw herself.

“She talked to me like a sister,” Itopa explains. “Because of that, I became more open with her.”

The relationship helped her gain confidence, not only in discussing health matters but also in interacting with others.

“She made me see life in a different way,” she says. “She helped me communicate and socialise with people.”

Itopa says Maryann was the first person who made it easy for her to trust someone outside her immediate circle.

“She was the first person that made me feel I could trust,” she says.

Using Tiko services also changed how  Itopa feels when seeking healthcare.

“When I’m holding my Tiko card and going to a health centre or a shop, I feel more confident,” she explains.

For a young woman, that confidence matters.

“I would describe myself as intelligent, elegant and respectful,” she says.

When she thinks about the future, her plans stretch beyond her immediate surroundings.

“I want to explore many places,” she says. But for now, the path she sees most clearly is one that leads into healthcare.

Moments like the time she helped treat someone reinforce that dream.

For Itopa, it was not just a small act of care. It was a glimpse of the nurse she hopes to become.