How Students Marked Valentine’s
Day a AHI
Ime Ola
Daily Sun
February 21, 2006
The crowd
of students was over whelming. Many of them who could
not get into the premises wept profusely at the gate.
The event was
the Annual St. Valentine’s Day celebration of
Action Health Incorporated, which took place at the
Youth Centre in Yaba, Lagos.
With the theme, “True Love Waits”,
it was aimed at promoting abstinence among young people.
Mrs. Elizabeth Tayo Amodu delivered a lecture, which
focused on abstinence, values and self worth. She defined
abstinence as ‘refraining from or not engaging
in any form of sexual intercourse`, adding that it requires
a conscious decision and effort.
She urged young people to avoid engaging
in risky behaviour that could undermine their health
and development in the name of expressing love and having
fun.
The lecture also focused on the consequences of risky
sexual behaviour, which she listed as STI`s, HIV/AIDS,
emotional problems, limited educational and employment
opportunities. She stressed the need for one to be determined
and committed once the decision to abstain has been
made.
Speaking with Daily Sun on the significance of the day,
Elemi Utobo Anni, 18, an SS3 student of Bishop Howells
Memorial Grammar School, Bariga, said: ` it is a very
important day for young people because it is a day to
show love and encouragement to our parents for their
care. It is also a day to appreciate their efforts at
giving us good education’.
Elemi, who hails from Yakurr Local
Government of Cross River State said he came to celebrate
the day with his friends from other schools because
he knew they would be there.
On her part, Kadijat Usman, 16 years
and SS1 student of Eva Adelaja Senior Girls Grammar
School ,Bariga described St. Valentine`s Day as a very
happy day to her to express her love to her parents
and sisters. Kadijat who started attending programmes
at the Youth Centre since the year 2000 said she has
really gained much from the centre.
This year’s edition featured
poetry competition, impromptu speeches, and question
and answer session, among other activities. Benson K.
Kenechi of Marywood Senior Grammar School, Ebute Metta
West clinched the first position in the poetry competition,
while Onajobi Oluwabukola of Reagan Memorial Baptist
Girls Secondary School, Sabo, Yaba, came second. The
third position went to Adejoh Patience of Mainland Senior
Secondary School ,Ebute Metta.
One of the highlights was the cutting
of the Valentine`s cake. And as the programme drew to
a close, girls from Eva Adelaja Senior Secondary Grammar
school, Bariga, dressed in black trousers and shirts
added colour to the event with a choreography presentation.
More than 300 young people drawn from
about 10 secondary schools in Mainland Local Government
Area of Lagos attended the programme.
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