The Youth Advocates Group in Nigeria had her first Campus organizing activity at the University of Abuja and it was a success. The theme of the event was on Stigmatization and there were over 250 students present. It was particularly interesting because Stigma and discrimination has been a major challenge for young people who are HIV positive and seeking an admission into the University. Quite a number of students have been denied admission based on their HIV status. So is the story of Gloria whom I met sometime late last year. She has been HIV positive for the past 9 years through unscreened blood transfusion and has faced all types of stigmatization; the worst I consider, is from her own mother, even till date. As the students watched a short footage on Gloria’s story and the challenges she grew up with, they couldn’t help but make comments and ask questions. It was interesting to know that some of them could feel her pain even though they hadn’t been in her shoes.

As I held the microphone to further explain Gloria’s story, to help them understand what stigmatization really is and how much damage it can do; I asked, Should Stigmatization be justified? Should anyone be treated differently because of their HIV status? Should students be denied admission into the University because they tested positive to HIV? In fact, what has that got to do with academic performance? What reason does a mother have to stigmatize her own very offspring?

Almost everyone agreed stigma is wrong and that it has no justification in all ramifications. However, there was this very student who said stigma can be justified and I asked how? He said that, denying a student of admission into the University for instance is for the benefit of other students. That because young people in the University engage in sexual activities, the HIV positive students can easily infect others. Just as I was about to respond to that, another student responded to that comment by explaining clearly, how that has nothing to do with denying someone a chance for a bright future, an education and liberty to express one’s self. Every other student supported as they cheered and clapped for her.

The Youth Advocates Group later informed the student about the Anti-Stigmatization bill currently at the National Assembly waiting to be passed into law and how important it is for them as young people to support that by putting down their signature on a sign on letter that will be taking to the House Committee on HIV/AIDS. The responses we got were amazing.

In all, they left with an experience. The experience of making their voice count and understanding that Stigmatization isn’t a choice, not even an option.