The Africa
Regional Sexuality Resource Centre hosted another
seminar in its quarterly Understanding Human Sexuality
Seminar Series at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital
(LUTH) in Lagos, south-west Nigeria. The first seminar
in 2005 had as its theme, "Sexuality Education"
and was chaired by Professor Peter Omoluabi of the
Department of Psychology, University of Lagos.
The seminar featured three speakers
and three discussants. The main presenters were:
- Dr. Adunola Adepoju of
the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos whose
paper was titled "Sexuality Education in
Nigeria: Evolution, Challenges and Propects"
- Professor. Bene Madunagu, Executive
Director of Girls Power Initiative, Calabar in South-south
Nigeria who spoke on the topic, "Empowering
Youth Through Sexuality Education: The Challenges
and Opportunities", and
- Dr. Ademola J. Ajuwon of the
African Regional Health Education Centre of the
College of Medicine, University of Ibadan in south-west
Nigeria who examined the topic - "Benefits
of Sexuality Education for Young Persons in Nigeria."
Dr. Chinwe Nwanna of the Department
of Sociology, University of Lagos; Dr. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe
of the Institute of Education, University of Ibadan
and Dr. Esther Foluke Akinsola, of the Department
of Psychology, University of Lagos, discussed the
three papers presented.
The Seminar was well attended by
over 60 guests that included academic staff of the
University of Lagos, high school teachers, members
of the NGO community, media practitioners and others.
There was a lively debate between the attendees, presenters
and discussants over some of the issues raised during
the seminar.
Dr. Adepoju’s paper examined
the concept of sexuality education touching on the
theories, principles and the definition of the subject
area. Some of the questions she grappled with were:
How did sexuality education originate? How has the
subject area evolved in Nigeria? What are the objectives
of sexuality education and how has this been tackled
within the context of Nigeria? In concluding, the
presenter called for the design of appropriate and
affordable educational resource materials and an expanded
programme aimed at training sexuality education handlers.
Adepoju emphasized the need to design and implement
large-scale programmes, which also cater for youth
who are out of school.
Prof. Madunagu traced the history
of sexuality education programmes in Nigeria noting
the diversity of actors that have been involved and
the success that was achieved when the Nigerian government
approved the National Curriculum for Comprehensive
Sexuality Education in August 2001. She noted however
that retrogressive elements advocated against the
use of the term ‘sexuality’ and this was
eventually eliminated. She drew attention to the misunderstanding
that usually surrounds the word sexuality, adding,
“it is the misconception associated with limiting
sexuality to the genitals and reproductive processes
such as childbirth that gives room for opportunistic
politicization of human sexuality”. Madunagu
explained the different components of sexuality education
and emphasized the need for the concept of sexuality
education to be clearly understood. She also observed
that there is a need to address the structural forces
of the neo-liberal agenda, capitalism, male dominance,
patriarchy (re-enforced by fundamentals of religion)
and the deepening economic crisis and globalisation.
Dr. Ajuwon examined the concept
of sexuality education, including definitions, and
emphasized the importance of sexuality education especially
where young persons are concerned. He said “Adolescents
reach sexual maturity before they develop mental and
emotional maturity or social skills needed to appreciate
the consequences of their sexual activity”.
Based on the results of several studies that he cited
in his presentation, Ajuwon affirmed that sexuality
education provides huge benefits and leads to improvement
in the reproductive health status of young persons.
He also provided some indicators for assessment of
the benefits of sexuality education. He noted that
contrary to the general belief that sexuality education
may be counter-productive for young persons, “sexuality
education leads to several positive reproductive health
outcomes”. On the challenges that impede implementation
of sexuality education programmes, He said, “Although
several curricular are now available for implementing
sexuality education for young persons in Nigeria,
comprehensive sexuality education is still not accessible
to the majority of young person who need it”.
The next seminar in the series is
scheduled for June 9, 2005 and will examine "Sexuality
and Social Institutions" with a focus on Religion,
Beliefs and Marriage.
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