OVER 1500 TEENAGERS TAKE OATH OF CHASTITY IN LAGOS AS VALENTINE’S DAY CELEBRATION DRAWS NEAR 10-02-25
By Sadiq Aminu No fewer than 1,500 youths, including teenagers, have undertaken a five-kilometer walk on major streets of Lagos State to raise awareness of the need for young people to adopt the right moral values, especially concerning maintaining sexual purity and chastity.
The event, which was concentrated at the NAN’S International Media Centre, Lagos, featured a symbolic renewal of commitment to chastity living, recitation of moral code, group discussion, and panel discussions towards good moral values among young people.
Themed” A New Identity for Feb.14Th:From Lovers Day to Chastity Day,” the event was organized to discourage irresponsible conduct by young people as they join others to celebrate Valentine’s Day later this week.
The annual event, which is its 13th edition, is a campaign against youths indulging in immorality organized by the Centre for Defence of Mortality (CDI) deviant behaviors.
The youths were grouped into 21 sets of 13 members each, tutored by social workers and moralists on ways to avoid immoral behavior and remain unpolluted teenagers that society should be proud of.
In his remarks, the Convener, Dr Nkem Chima, said that the idea was to administer an African moral value of abstinence on the vulnerable ones to halt the subsisting Western cultural imperialism.
Chima said that, unlike the promotion of the use of condoms by the Western world, abstinence was an all-encompassing solution that restores morality and honor to younger fellows.
“The West can’t give us a solution. The promotion of the use of condoms is unethical to Africans and promotes Western cultural imperialism against blacks.
“The African teenage girl has the obligation of the whole community to guide, protect, and sanction her in the case of any misbehavior.
“It has been our method to use life stories of teenage victims whose aspirations have been cut short because of indulgence in immorality to teach people to remain on track,” he said.
One of the resource persons, Ms. Uche Agbai, listed ways a teenager could say no to deviant behaviors and maintain chastity, such as No to incest, and no to homosexuality and No to lesbianism.
She noted others to include no sexting, no fornication, no pornography, no rape, no cross-dressing, no drugs, and no group sex orgies.
Agbai said that the young people have been taught the A B C of preventive measures and are expected to carry the campaign to their various schools to sustain the tempo.
One of the participants Ms. Delight Emenike, a 14-year student of Eric Moore Secondary School said that the symbolic vow-making; was a solemn commitment that touched one’s heart,”
According to her, with the teachings from the officials on the dangers of sexual experience before marriage, I will abide by the rules and maintain my chastity till I get married.