SEX AND CULTURE: SENSTIZATION PROGRAMME

      Culture is the people way of life… in the word of E.B. Tylor, “that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of the society”

   Agbado is under Ifo Local Government Ogun State, Nigeria. It has an area of 521 km² and a population of 524,837 at the 2006 census.

       A Community Development Service group in Agbado Town Hall “Culture and Tourism” comprised with about 15 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, initiated an idea to sensitize the local government on a captioning topic “Sex and Culture”. They set themselves aside to act as one of the principal agent to drive home cultural heritage into the very bones of settlers in the Local Government.

   Relating sex to culture, there are so many things hidden under the carpet of pretense which so far has eaten up the moral values in the community. Morality is one of the pillars that hold culture intact. Some culture support sex either premarital/adultery while others frown. Although the Yoruba culture is one of those who frown over such practice but remember what is done in the dark will stick its head out during sunlight someday.

   This exercise took place on Friday 9^th September right before heavy rain washed the skies down. The CDS group shared themselves into mini-groups, collected sensitive information from the settlers alongside deliver the main course of sensitization appropriately.

   The target audience was precisely teenagers. Here are the basic objectives.

* Creating awareness on safe sex and abstinence.

* The dangers of premarital sex.
* Prompting them to report any issue relating rape and molestation. 

   Reports gotten from the field were stunning and at some point match accurately to the speculated results gotten from an underground investigation prior the sensitization.

   Corper Micheal and Joseph reported that a teenager they met Ransack Showobola is 22years of age, married to his 20year old wife, who he got pregnant at 17, delivered at 18years and their son is 2years old currently. He told them that if he dies today he will leave the world with something behind (his son).

 

   Another target audience they met was Ibrahim Adepoju, who is married with children opened up that one of the major issue in that area is that people practice unprotected sexual practices and they get married at a very early/immature age leading to unwanted pregnancy.

   One of the teenager they met Bisi Rotimi is already pregnant.

  Corper Philemon and Funke approached an elderly man whom wasn’t our target but contributed immensely to the backbone of the mission. He said that it’s a good task; he has been hearing talks on sex and culture on the radio but hasn’t seen anyone walk up to him to talk about it until Corpers did. He proposed that in order to cut through communication barrier, the CDS group should have a translator for effective communication flow. He pointed out other areas that can be visited to undergo the sensitization programme. 

 

   Due to the rain, many areas were not covered which we plan visiting next week. Sex can’t be prevented entirely… “Body no be firewood” this is a common phrase-slag we are familiar with. Every targeted individual that was sensitized were encouraged to make use of a condom if at all they must engage in sexual practice. One of the teenagers I met specifically said “a way to tackle this is by parents talking more to their kids” which of course I support. While another suggestion was that we should convert this sensitization into a seminar to enhance wider coverage.

 

   Lastly, the contact of the leader of Gender and Equality CDS group Miss Gift will be given to the settlers during the course of the sensitization programe for people to report cases such as rape, molestation and all sorts.

   If you are reading this join us as we spread the word of morality, safe sex and fair treatment as we fulfill the purpose of Community Development Service cooperatively. We cannot do this without you.

Gracious is Newton Paul’s Blog online Publicist
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