INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY – SUSTAINABILITY, OUR CHALLENGE, OUR & FUTURE

 

The 12^th August 2008, is a day I will not forget so easily. On this day, I happened to attend a party organized by one of the leading telecommunication company in Nigeria in my school, the show started by 2200hrs and it was free for all. Youth are fun lovers and I am not exemption. My friend and I dressed to kill, and we headed for the show, with lots of expectations from the show. The show was not disappointing and lots of babes showed up along with lots of rock and roll. I fell into the traps of one of the beautiful damsels that graced the occasion. There was lots of alcohols to drink and I drank to my full and being under the influence of the alcohol we both found ourselves in a dark corner and we did all that you can imagine without protection.

For me the day was fun, and a must discuss among my course mates, it was during the course of our discussion that a trained peer educator amongst us opened my eyes to see the consequences of my action and recommended that I go to a youth friendly centre where I can obtain services and more information about Adolescent Sexual reproductive health, his narration about the youth friendly centre was not what I saw when I visited one and I refused to go in and talk to the man who could be the same age as my father, he insisted I go get information from them because they are trained to do so.
    On the 17^th of the same month, I yielded to my course mate advice and went for help from the old man who tongue lashed me before letting me see the implications of that singular act of mine, and referred me for HIV/ STI’s test. The HIV test was free; it was not the same for STI testing which I had to pay from my pocket money. Thinking that the memory of the show will go out of my head after the test conducted came out negative, I received a call on the 10^th of September from a girl called floxy claiming she missed her period, and am responsibly for that, I inquire to know who l was speaking with and she narrated the same story about the show and that she has not had sex for the past six months before I met her and no other person could have been responsible.  Now am a father that is still been fathered and the family is even suggesting marriage

So when my cause mate who happens to be a peer educator told me about the International Youth day theme for 2009 and asked if l would like to share my experience by posting blog, I thought it was an opportunity for someone to learn from my mistakes.

 

Looking back, why can’t corporate bodies invest in something meaningful for the development of the Nigerian youths, instead of social activities that could make many vulnerable? Why can’t we be more creative in sponsoring activities that can bring about the required changes in development especially for the youth who they usually target? The theme for this year is SUSTAINABILTY, OUR CHALLENGE, and OUR FUTURE.

My take on these the government should provide fund to address these issues and revisit the existing policies to see to its implementation. Corporate entities can direct their funding for social responsibility in these direction too………..