By Ayodele Oni
A university don has observed that lack of policies have made schools across the country shy away from giving sexual education to girl-children.
The don has, therefore, called on policy makers and legislatures to enact and implement laws that would make sex education mandatory for every school age students at all levels of education in Nigeria.
Prof. Eunice Osakinle of the Department of Adolescent and Reproductive Health Guidance and Counseling of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, made the call while delivering the 60th Inaugural lecture of the institution.
Delivering the lecture titled ‘Sexuality Education of the Girl-child: guidance for better tomorrow,’ she pointed out that the sexuality education of the adolescence, especially the girl child plays a major role in securing her future, while making her become a better woman in years to come.
“Given the escapades of the adolescents, some other factors that are impacting on their sexuality and sexual health, and the various consequences arising therein, it is imperative that efforts should not be spared to assist the adolescents to understand and manage their sexuality for tomorrow.
“I have devoted my research into the study adolescents’ sexuality because the challenges they are facing are enormous and should be a major cause of concern to all of our counselors, health workers, parents, adolescents themselves and other stakeholders.”
The Varsity don pointed out that the roles of the guidance counselor, which she added, are enormous in sexuality education of the girl-child must not be undermined or jeopardized.
Prof. Osakinle opined that some parents failed to educate their girl-child sexually, saying ignorance and lack of experience or information about trending topics on sexuality education contributed to their failures.
“Communication between the parent and the child is very important aspect of sexuality education.
“Understanding parental decision about when to talk with teenagers shows that most parents do not even bring up the topic and prefer it discussed when their children are about to marry, which is risky because often times, at this stage, a lot of damage might have already been done and could lead to fixation, trauma and other negative health implications.
“Adolescent whose parents discuss sexual health and safe sex with early enough seem to engage in less risky sexual behaviour than those whose parents do not.”
The don, who is a counselor and researcher in adolescent studies, stated further that, adolescence made up 20 percent of the world’s population and 85 percent of them live in the developing countries.
According to her, adolescence involve themselves in sexual experimentation that often leads to acquisition of Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unplanned pregnancy.
“It is worrying to note that the girl child is susceptible to a varying number of challenges and among these is rape, which must be totally eradicated.
“Also, in addressing the shortcomings of uneducated parents who shy away from giving sexual education to their girl-children, there should be sex education and provision of school-based day care and parenting central for those parents.
“These strategies would provide viable and effective avenues for giving students a better chance to be educated sexually as they would have every reason to complete their education.”
