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Int’l Youth Day: Panel Of Discussants In Benin Decry Lack Of Sex Education In Homes

Published

3 years ago

August 12, 2022

Editor

Discussants at a one day programme organized to mark this year’s International Youth Day have attributed unwanted pregnancy, abortion among Nigerian youths to the huge gap of sexual communication between parents and their wards as they grow up.

They said most parents forbid communicating anything that has to do with sex in their homes to their growing children, hence they go elsewhere particularly the social media to get such sexual information and even get the wrong ones.

The programme to mark year’s International Youth Day with the theme: ‘Intergenerational Solidarity: Creating a World for All Ages’ was organized on Friday in Benin by Edo State Technical Working Group for Adolescent Health and Developent (STWGAYHD) in collaboration with Advocacy Core Group (ACG), Edo and other stakeholders including the Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria.

One of the panel of discussants at the event, Comrade Abiola Daisy Igaga from Conference of Non-Governmnetal Organisation said most parents do not have anything to tell their children on reproductive health, rather they gave the scary information of getting pregnant if a man meets them.

“Most mothers do not have what they can tell their children on reproductive health. In fact, my mother then will tell me that ‘if a man gets close to you, you will be pregnant,’ but this is not true. So, I did not have any information on reproductive health until I got to school,” she said.

Another discussant, Juliet Egwede from Edo State Technical Group on Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health said parents and the society at large respond negatively to any discussion on sex by the young ones rather than enlightening them and telling them the right ways to go about it.

“The response from parents, when a child starts communication on reproductive health, has been negative. Even the society we are living in, when you talk about sex, the response is always negative. So, this makes young people shy away from talking about it particularly in public,” she said.

Continuing in the discussion, she said: “We need to talk about it at home. We are in the social media age where young ones go and learn most often in the negative, so, if we fail to teach them at home, they will go and learn elsewhere. So, as parents, if we have that communication relationship with our children about sex as they grow up, they will open up to us.”

Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. Bright Oniovokukor, Chairman, STWGAYHD, said one of the issues plaguing young people is inadequate access to reproductive health services, mostly, accurate information on reproductive health services and contraceptive service health.

He added: “Numerous factors such as parental influence, community and religious norms, etc are seen as significant barriers in affecting sexual reproductive health discussion. To address this social barrier hence we are having this International Dialogue and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Services. We want to bridge the gap that we can close.”

He continued: “One is tempted to ask, where did we miss it; where does the gap lie? Can we identify these gaps for things to get better?”

In his goodwill message, Hillary Aghedo, Chairman, National Youth Council, Oredo Chapter, urged youths to join the movement of positive change that everyone in the country is yearning for.

In her goodwill message, Bisi Akpaida, state coordinator, Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, said journalists are concerned about the reproductive health of the young ones hence media practitioners came together with a view to talking and enlightening them on reproductive health.

Discussants at the event all stressed the need for parents to all bridge the gap of sexual communication with their children with a view to guiding them aright in their sexual activities, as they said most of the young ones are sexually active hence no need to hiding anything from them.

News

PHOTOS: Brazil Welcomes Tinubu With Full Military Honours In Brasília

Published

13 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

Brazil on Monday rolled out full military honours at the Planalto Palace in Brasília to receive President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this on X on Monday.

Onanuga said Tinubu was welcomed by his host, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

He wrote, “More photos of the official reception for President Tinubu at the Planalto Palace in Brasília, Monday, August 25, 2025. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva welcomed President Bola Tinubu with full military honours.”

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Tinubu Signs Direct Flight, Other Agreements With Brazil

Published

13 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed a landmark Bilateral Air Service Agreement with Brazil, signalling the establishment of direct air links between Nigeria and South America’s largest economy.

The agreement was formalised on Monday during Tinubu’s official state visit to Brasília.

Media aide to the minister, Tunde Moshood, made this known through a statement, made available to The PUNCH.

At the signing ceremony which was witnessed by Messrs Nigerian President, Tinubu and the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brasilia also had the Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria, while Brazil’s Minister of Transport, Silvio Costa Filho, also signed for the host country.

The BASA creates a new framework for direct flights between Nigeria and Brazil, with the potential to significantly enhance trade, tourism, investment, and diplomatic relations.

The statement further noted that, “ It also marks a key step in Nigeria’s broader efforts to strengthen international partnerships and improve global connectivity.”

Tinubu had arrived in Brazil with a delegation that included Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; and other senior government officials.

According to the statement, the Brazilian President welcomed the agreement, expressing his administration’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria in sectors such as aviation, agriculture, and infrastructure.

He described the BASA as a reflection of the strong ties between both countries and an opportunity to deepen economic and cultural collaboration.

Tinubu is also scheduled to hold meetings with key Brazilian government officials, including the President of the Senate, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court.

The two-day visit will include high-level discussions between Nigerian and Brazilian delegations across various sectors, as both nations explore opportunities for mutual growth and development.

The statement reads, “The ongoing state visit will also see President Tinubu meeting the President of the Brazilian Senate at the National Congress, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, and the President of the Supreme Federal Court.

“The working visit, which continues tomorrow, will also feature high-level engagements between Nigerian and Brazilian delegations across various sectors, underscoring both nations’ commitment to building a future of mutual growth and prosperity.”

News

NAFDAC Warns Of Fake Postinor-2 In Circulation

Published

13 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Monday issued a public alert, warning the public about confirmed counterfeit batches of Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75 mg) now circulating in Nigeria.

The alert follows a report from the Society for Family Health, the marketing authorisation holder, confirming that they did not import the suspect batches.

Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) is a brand of emergency contraceptive pill containing the active ingredient levonorgestrel.

NAFDAC revealed there are noticeable labelling discrepancies between the authentic and fake products.

It said, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) hereby notifies the public of falsified Type 1 and 2 batches of POSTINOR 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) product in circulation.

“The noticeable difference was found to be as follows: The font size of the text on the pin verification sticker appears smaller and has a wrong spelling of the word Veify instead of Verify on the fake; meanwhile, the text font on the sticker of the original appears bigger and more visible. There is also a wrong spelling behind the pack of the fake “Distnibuted in Nigeria” instead of distributed in Nigeria”, NAFDAC said.

NAFDAC identified the original Postinor-2 as batch T32458H, manufactured in February 2023 with an expiry date of February 2027 and registration number 04-6985.

The agency, however, confirmed two falsified versions: Counterfeit Product (Type 1), batch T36184B, manufactured in August 2024 with an expiry date of August 2028; and Counterfeit Product (Type 2), batch 332, manufactured in March 2023 with an expiry date of February 2027, both carrying the registration number 04-6985.

It said that due to the potential presence of incorrect, substandard, or harmful ingredients, improper dosages of levonorgestrel, and a lack of sterile manufacturing conditions, poses significant risks to individual health and public safety.

“The risks of administering falsified Postinor 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) include failure of contraceptive effect, toxic or harmful contaminants, unpredictable side effects, delayed or missed opportunity for genuine emergency contraception, and potential long-term reproductive health impact. Unexpected side effects: Unknown substances can trigger allergic reactions, organ damage, or death.

“Counterfeit medicines are unregulated, untested, and illegal, making their safety and efficacy impossible to guarantee. Patients should only obtain Postinor-2 from verified pharmacies or licensed healthcare providers.

“Although Investigations are still ongoing regarding the source of the falsified product, all NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the falsified product of type 1 and 2 postinor 2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg) within the zones and states,” it added.

NAFDAC urged consumers and healthcare providers to verify PIN stickers carefully, report suspected counterfeit products, and always purchase medications from reputable sources.