Make Sex Education Mandatory In Schools – Varsity Don Urges Policy Makers

Nigerian policymakers have been urged to make mandatory the study of sex education in schools.

Dr Olufunmilayo Osakinle, an expert on Adolescent and Reproductive Health Counselling who made the call, observed that teenage pregnancy, rape and all forms of sexual molestation of girl child is increasing daily in the country.

Ezenwoko’s Blog reports that the university Don noted this in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday while delivering the 60th Inaugural Lecture entitled: Girl Child: Guidance For a Better Tomorrow’, at the Ekiti State University, EKSU.

The Professor said it will be terrible for the country to fold its arms and allow children to be defiled through sexual exploitations.

Osakinle is optimistic that sex education would help the girl child to escape cases of sexual molestations that could befall them in adolescence.

The Professor insists that the legislature must enact a bill that would make sex education compulsory, noting that an in-depth knowledge would help immensely in curbing cases of sexual exploitation in the country

Her statement read partly: “Apart from that bill that will be passed into law, the teachers should objectively pass knowledge to children sex, devoid of any religious or cultural colouration and harassment to the children.

“Also in addressing the shortcomings of uneducated parents, who shy away from giving sex education to their girl children, there should be a provision of daycare and parenting centres for those parents”, she said.

Osakinle canvassed the organisation of regular seminars, workshops and conferences to keep girl children abreast of their sexuality, to be able to cope in any hostile environment.

The Professor also admonished parents to look after their wards, educate them by asking the kids sexual related questions.

This according to him will go along way while the government is busy finding ways to solve the problems of teenage pregnancy, rape and defilement.

Speaking earlier at the event, the EKSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eddy Olanipekun, advised that it was worthwhile for parents to invest in the education of girl children, saying this remains one of the best ways to protect the integrity of any nation.

He said: “This lecture was well researched and has relevance with what is happening in our environment in this present time.

“Let me also tell my colleague Professors that we are in the day of technology, some of you can deliver your inaugural lectures online, in view of the current Coronavirus pandemic, this is now allowed because research works can help solve some of our national and local problems,” Olanipekun added.