What is the future going to be like if we, the custodians of the future are corrupting the minds of the future leaders today? Instead of preserving the future by educating the current future leaders, impacting in them, the knowledge that will benefit them as they reach the helm and continue the process from where we will leave it.

Just like when we were future leaders, our parents, made sure we received the education we deserved, despite having little or no resources, they sacrificed, they disciplined us, keeping us away from vices that would prevent us from achieving the success that parents desired for us, they didn’t care about human rights.

Our parents and society might have been looked at as a harsh environment to grow up in, but believe me, I do not regret getting that spank from a teacher if I have messed up, my mother will do the same at home, elders within the community won’t spare me.

For me growing up in that kind of society taught me to have respect and fear for self, fear sounds like a bad thing, but if well treated, it is the beginning of wisdom. Here we are, here I am, having made it. Morally, mentally and physically grown, standing strong and looking forward to how I will raise my kids.

But it saddens me every time I hear the message of raising children today. We are told not to spank our kids. We are encouraged to respect the rights of our children and everyone else. It is a good thing to acknowledge and respect the rights of children and any other person, but only to some extent.

As a parent and society, we also have the right to raise our children in a more responsible adult, one who will carry our family names and similarly raise our grandchildren.

Lately, adverts have been running on air with a message to our teenagers. The message is rather disturbing to me because it is encouraging our school-going teenagers to practice safe sex. From where I stand, there is no such thing as safe sex. It is just sex. And this is not a message to share with children.

Yes, they are sexually active, just like us when we were at that age. In fact, at our time, the message was abstinence, and the average age for a high school student in my class then was 19 we even had classmates order than that age, meaning we were adults. But today, the average age is 16, kids.

I have always argued that if the message is encouraging authorities to place condoms in the toilets, asking girls to use other forms of contraceptives, whether it is at an institution of work or of learning, they are saying, ‘ have sex,‘ encouraging sexual activities to be practised at any time, anywhere. Not just when you go home, of which in this case, your parents/guardians home, but even right here where you are, it doesn’t matter your age, you have been supplied with protection, and a green light to indulge.

I thought I was the only one concerned with these messages until a radio presenter raised the issue on air asking listeners.

‘Where has the message of abstinence gone? And why are we encouraging safe sex to school-going teenagers? Is it even moral to do so?

PUBLIC REACTION

The first caller’s point of view was that ‘whoever is sponsoring these sensitization messages is realistic, realistic in that teenagers indulge in sexual acts and the best is to give them education on how they can indulge without contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and also prevent unwanted pregnancies.‘ The caller was right to some extent because that was his point of view.

Another called, a lady said it this way; ‘I have two daughters, teenagers. I cannot imagine myself telling my daughters to practice safe sex, and carry condoms to school because this is as good as encouraging them to indulge.‘ Please note that these are not the exact words, but that was the point stressed. The caller shared how uncomfortable it is in a situation where you are driving your kids to school when such messages are running on the radio. It is torture.

Another caller mentioned something that made more sense to me. Her point was in reaction to another caller. Who asked what the objective was and who is sponsoring the messages.

She said, the general public is not driving the messages, the funders, the ones we call donors from developed countries are the ones with a message and the public accepts it as they have no choice. So we allow foreign donors to destroy our morals.

Why I am against safe sex messages to teenagers;

1. Spread of STIs- Our country will have a society of young people who are carriers of a variety of sexually transmitted infections. Sex is too good to be manipulated condoms prevent unwanted pregnancies and STIs. Other contraceptives only prevent pregnancy but not STIs. So young people will be so much into sex and share diseases.

2. Side effects- I feel the use of contraceptives on the health of young girls might have adverse effects in the long run. I know they say that contraceptives are safe, but these are kids we are talking about here.

3. Robbed Of Childhood- By encouraging kids to have sex at the age when they are supposed to enjoy the teenage moments of putting their dreams into perspective, we take away that opportunity from them. Sex is so good you will forget you have a future. And In case of any complications due to pregnancy or STI, the dreams will be shuttered.

But who can help us?

The Parents/Guardians- I do feel, parents/guardians need to take the first step in educating children on the importance of waiting for the right moments. Children, even though they are sexually active, can be made to wait until they are financially independent and are mature enough to handle their problems. Parents and guardians can easily communicate with their children by setting a good example to them.

Teachers and Religious Leaders- these play a very important role in the development of society. They guide us morally and that is why the need to step up on ensuring that children are educated on the dangers of sex and benefits of abstinence.

The Government- A deliberate policy needs to be in place in safeguarding the future of young people. It should also have a stance on what donors bring to the tables. Donors are destroying our culture with their conditions. The Ministries responsible for education and health are supposed to spearhead such policies. We even have a Ministry responsible for religious affairs and national guidance in place. I wonder what this Ministry stands for if they cannot control what is going on right now.

These are my thoughts, and I would love to hear from you, what your thoughts are.