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The future of Nigeria lies in the hand of young people who constitute more than one third of the population. So much has been done to address this, but limited numbers of young people have been involved in policy formulation and implementation, having in mind that young people are sexually active and women and young people are the most affected. Recently, National Assembly organized a public hearing on the anti-stigma bill and the Youth Advocates Group was the only youth group present at the hearing and we made our recommendations. Furthermore to achieve our aims and what we stand for at the anti-stigma bill, YAG members agreed to carry out a video screening exercise on the life of a young person living with HIV. At the University of Abuja the venue of the event youth filled the hall to the brim with lots of expectations of what to come out of the exercise. During the screening I felt air of emotional break down among the students. I felt the passion from Morenike, a student of law reacting to the issues of stigma from the perspective of someone that has faced stigmatization because of her colour (being an albino). Hear her “ if people who are suppose to be your friend isolates you, life will be miserable and you will fill dejected a lot of things comes to your mind, as a child growing l have faced that challenge know what it feels like. It is one of the things that informed my chosen career, this must stop and it takes the commitment of all of us”.
The passion and how she spoke about the issue made a very big difference, hearing from someone who had been and is still facing stigmatized among them made over 150 students sign a petition letter to the national assembly for a speedy passage of the Anti-stigma bill which was in support of the recommendations made by YAG.
Oh Great Nigerian youth! information is key, we must disseminates that to all, if an individual will bring 150 students to take action on all forms of stigmatization, WE MUST TAKE ACTION, this is a call to ACTION for everyone, not only the GOVERNMENT because CHANGES begins ONLY when you DEMAND FOR IT.
January 21st will for ever remain a memorable day in my life; as an Advocate.
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