Nigeria’s Last Virgins!

By Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye

If you are a parent or grandparent, whose children or grandchildren are enrolled in Nigerian schools, and you read this article, and decide that the current attempt by a tiny clique of clearly depraved minds within the nation’s educational system, to carefully disrobe Nigerian kids of their prized innocence and healthy mind and titillate them to perdition should not attract your unreserved indignation, conscious action, and, in fact, public outrage, then, just know that you are not qualified to answer a parent anymore. In fact, your children and grandchildren will certainly wake up one day to curse your memory for watching passively while some desperate fellows, for totally self-serving reasons, subjected their tender minds to vile and ungodly lessons that are carefully and solely designed to make them become animals in human skins.

A couple of months ago, when I was shown the topics to be treated under the subject called “Sexuality Education” or “Sex Education” which tender children in both junior and secondary schools in Lagos State are now being forced to learn, I could not imagine that anyone outside a mental home could be wicked enough to design a subject with such insidious contents, even for the kids of his worst enemy! In fact, as I think about it now, I consider the introduction of that subject in our schools the worst case of child abuse – brazenly endorsed by the nation’s education authorities and unleashed on today’s kids like a poisonous live snake. What kind of madness is this?  Mere kids, some as young as nine and ten, are put in the hands of teachers, who deploy every energy, talent and creativity to pollute and saturate their tender minds with every detail about sexual immorality, masturbation, contraceptives (like condom and pills), etc. And like I said here last week, I can imagine how easy it would become for a teacher who has been targeting a female student to use his creative elaboration of this subject, to get the girl so aroused she would become easy meat. My suspicion is that in many cases, what the teachers would be giving out would be targeted more at titillating their tender victims than educating them!

When this matter was debated on the TV programme, “Patito’s Gang,” recently, virtually all the participants wondered why a few people could take it upon themselves, to gather in one small room somewhere, and without adequate consultations with stakeholders, especially parents and even teachers, design such a vile subject, with far-reaching implications for the moral health of the nation. My brother, Reuben Abati, who moderated the discussions that day laboured so hard to sell the lame point about the need “to empower the kids with information,” so they could be in a position to make their choices.  

As Reuben recycled these well-worn, uninspiring arguments, I remembered a particular essay of his in The Guardian of Sunday of March 3, 2002, entitled, “Mrs. Atiku’s Search For Virgins”, where he thoroughly chastised Mrs. Amina Titi Atiku Abubakar, Vice President’s wife, for daring to say (in Reuben’s words) that, “one way of stopping the alarming spread of HIVAIDS scourge in our society is for mothers and each and everyone of us to discourage and avoid premarital sex.” Reuben sounded so offended by Mrs. Atiku’s suggestion that I began to wonder whether there was anything he stood gain by a possible “deregulation” of sexual immorality in Nigeria! Well, I began to get a clear picture of where he was coming from when he declared: “Mrs. Atiku wants virgins on our streets. Ah! Does she know the number of businesses that depend on premarital sex? … If Mrs. Atiku had been talking about safe sex, adolescent sexuality awareness programmes and general pubic enlightenment, that would have been fine. But to say people should avoid pre-marital sex, is simply revolutionary.” Yes, Reuben actually said that!

Well, Reuben is not alone in that camp. A few days after his article appeared in Nigeria, Mr. Andrew M. Mwenda published an article in The Monitor (Uganda’s leading newspaper - March 22, 2002) captioned: “Sexual Abstinence: Rubbish!” Said Wwenda in the piece: “To demand that a girl abstains from sex until she is married… is to impose an unbearable burden on our daughters.” I should think that Mr. Wwenda is raising his voice in support of some “liberated” women who always feel extremely pained each time the word “virginity” is mentioned. For them, such a word was merely invented by men to subjugate women, since, it is often used more in relation to women than to men. Now, I don’t intend this discourse to degenerate to a gender a war, and distract us from the more important issues we are trying to resolve here. I can only add that any girl who is swallowing such claptrap from her “liberated” aunties should first take a look at them, and ask herself whether her ambition is to end up like them. Yes, she should count the costs, because at the end of the day, reality, that ultimate unmasker of all self-deceptions, will discover everyone and hold aloft in broad daylight the relics of every misspent youth! Indeed we deceive ourselves when we try to play down the point that in any sexual misadventure, the woman is always at greater risk, and this has to do more with her peculiar anatomy than societal conditioning, as some feminists would have us believe. Wisdom should therefore dictate that she who faces the greater risk should exercise the greater caution! I have my suspicions about the intentions of these anti-virginity amazons. It even becomes more suspicious when some men, hiding under some dubious “woman friendly” credentials, also enlist in the anti-virginity army, especially, as it relates to women. My take is that before any girl elects to take these men serious, she should do herself a favour by pondering the plain words of David Thomas who once said: “If I were a woman, I would never trust men who say they are feminists.  Either they are acting out of guilt, trying to establish credentials, or they think they might be able to pick more girls. If I were a woman, I would say [to the men]: go away and have your first period.  Then come back and tell me you are a feminist.”

The reason behind the introduction of these destructive teachings in our schools, I am told, is to help children escape teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV/AIDS. The aim is to demystify fornication, give it positive image, as something to be cherished and enjoyed, without any fear, so long as it is done “safely”. The belief is that with the age-long “superstition” built around sexual immorality, a few straying kids tend to do it with fear, and in the process get into trouble.  But, unfortunately, by introducing these teachings, these fellows are playing with fire. The totally naïve confidence they have invested in the effectiveness of their “safe sex” is not backed by any facts. In their desperation to introduce the subject and rake in millions of naira from the books already written and printed on it, they forgot to consider the consequences of their actions – a fallout this nation may never recover from. It is a fact that these teachings have been introduced in both the United States and Britain for several years now. As I write now, I have before me, a BBC report saying that Britain has the highest record of teenage pregnancy in the whole of Western Europe. Also, another report has it that the United States has the highest number of teenage pregnancies in the Western world. Again, in the United States, where years of successful and effective campaign for the use of condom has yielded massive attitudinal change in favour of condom use, new infections of HIV are still on the increase. Why is Nigeria always eager to import programmes and policies that have failed in other nations? Just why?

The point we must note is that what these teachings have done, and are still doing, is to excite immoral curiosities in those kids and push them into more dangerous adventures. Try and interview the teachers who teach this vile subject and be shocked by their narration of the vulgar excitement it produces in the nine and ten year-old babies on whom it is presently being inflicted. Ask the teachers, especially the mothers and fathers among them, whether they sincerely believe this subject would be in the best   interest of the pupils! Where is this nation really heading to? How do we  expect children to still concentrate on their studies when we saturate them with filthy teachings that only pollute their minds with lusts. As the nation encourages these babies to start having “sin-partners” at nine and ten, and indulging in “safe” unrestrained sex, what type of future leaders do we expect them to become? After “empowering”  them to go on rampage and experiment with “safe” indiscriminate sex or masturbation at will, wouldn’t we have succeeded in giving them a virus deadlier than AIDS?  Every decent minded person in this country should rise in fierce condemnation of this desperation to give our children enough light to light them to damnation. He must enlist in the coming big battle to eliminate this unambiguous satanic script from our school system. 

By the way, what is all this fetish about “safe” sex? Is there anything like that? Already, a lot of studies and findings have effectively punctured the dubious confidence that AIDS campaigners have for self-serving reasons built on condom. We know that when reduced to a very micro level, several objects, especially rubber and plastics, have tiny holes through which very minute micro organisms could pass. I read somewhere recently that “HIV virus is only 0.1 micron in size while the naturally occurring holes in a latex condom is of the order 5 to 50 microns in diameter.” Indeed, HIV is 500 times smaller than spermatozoa, yet research has established that spermatozoa are able to sometimes pass through the wall of a latex condom and cause pregnancy. Then tell me what happens with HIV? The example cited earlier of the worrisome rise in fresh infections of HIV in a place like the US despite the success of condom-use campaign would serve to buttress this point. So we better rouse ourselves from this lethal sleep and halt this brazen assault on public morality in the guise of protection of kids. Who knows who is inspiring this campaign? It is instructive that The Guardian on Sunday, July 18, 1999, carried a report that a cross section of American college (mostly female) students are regretting the limitless freedom their parents had taught them and are now pursuing a “no-sex” campaign. But in Nigeria in 2006, sex has been deregulated and democratized. What an abomination!

Right now, a serious regret is also seriously soaking the consciousness of the Western world, because of the moral wreck their children have become. But they are now helpless, because, it seems to have become too late, and things have got out of hand. They now wish they never gave a silly interpretation to freedom in their society at some point in their history and saved their children from becoming a little better than animals. But poor Nigerians, we are distinguished by our peculiar knack to gobble up everything Western, no matter how rotten. Go to the scummy pond called Nollywood, and ask them why they are going so wild and immoral, and the answer you will get is: That is how they do it in Hollywood. See what I mean?

But the question to ask is: to what extent should the state interfere in my life and family? Where does the state derive the authority to invade my home with pernicious teachings, and inflict them on my kids, just because I gave them my kid to educate in their schools? How I am sure that those who designed this subject are not moral wrecks themselves, who have a mission to poison society, and make everyone become like them? Must the state empower them to ruin the nation’s kids? I know Reuben has already hinted us about the commercial consideration in the project, but must they prosper at the expense of all we hold dear?  Indeed, I sincerely think the state has over-stepped its bounds, and must therefore be challenged. They can’t take over the roles, which only parents can perform well. If you want your children to become animals, gather them inside the (dis)comfort of  your home and teach them all the techniques of creative sexual immorality. Don’t hide under the cover of the state spread such a Euro-brewed pollution to other homes. You cannot claim to love the children of others more than the parents that gave birth to them.

I have made up my mind to oppose this surreptitious attempt by the state to teach my children what a few fellows gathered somewhere and formulated, which I consider very unhealthy for them. I don’t care what anyone says, or if I am called primitive, but I am totally and wholly against any attempt by anyone to pollute the minds of today’s youths and turn them to moral wrecks. For me, the struggle against this vile and obnoxious policy is just about to begin.  

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Related article by the same author on the same subject: http://www.independentngonline.com/news/72/ARTICLE/11553/2006-09-20.html

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Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye is a Columnist/Member, Independent (www.independentngonline ) Editorial Board. Email: scruples2006@yahoo.com 

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 27.09.2006 17:11

techsista  Villager

# 2 I thought I was going to read an exciting treatise on the need for more male virgins in Nigeria, but alas, the author seems to believe the term virgin is synonymous with young woman. Who'd a thunk ;-)? Since the author is male, I suggest he focus on the uphill battle of instilling the concepts of "sexual morality" and abstinence in the young Nigerian male (it takes two to tango abi no be so?). That would indeed be an effort worthy of much applause. Already, a lot of studies and findings have effectively punctured the dubious confidence that AIDS campaigners have for self-serving reasons built on condom. We know that when reduced to a very micro level, several objects, especially rubber and plastics, have tiny holes through which very minute micro organisms could pass. I read somewhere recently that “HIV virus is only 0.1 micron in size while the naturally occurring holes in a latex condom is of the order 5 to 50 microns in diameter.� Indeed, HIV is 500 times smaller than spermatozoa, yet research has established that spermatozoa are able to sometimes pass through the wall of a latex condom and cause pregnancy. Then tell me what happens with HIV? The example cited earlier of the worrisome rise in fresh infections of HIV in a place like the US despite the success of condom-use campaign would serve to buttress this point. So we better rouse ourselves from this lethal sleep and halt this brazen assault on public morality in the guise of protection of kids. Who knows who is inspiring this campaign? The ignorance displayed in the excerpt above is one reason it is imperative that everyone (not just kids) learn more about AIDS and other STDs and how to protect themselves. Please cite the specific studies and findings you refer to above. You do a great disservice when you pass misleading statements off as fact. Posted by techsista| 27.09.2006 17:44

Anike  Bibi ire: Agbe Gboko Rosu

# 3 =techsista;132347>I thought I was going to read an exciting treatise on the need for more male virgins in Nigeria, but alas, the author seems to believe the term virgin is synonymous with young woman. Who'd a thunk ;-)? Since the author is male, I suggest he focus on the uphill battle of instilling the concepts of "sexual morality" and abstinence in the young Nigerian male (it takes two to tango abi no be so?). That would indeed be an effort worthy of much applause. Already, a lot of studies and findings have effectively punctured the dubious confidence that AIDS campaigners have for self-serving reasons built on condom. We know that when reduced to a very micro level, several objects, especially rubber and plastics, have tiny holes through which very minute micro organisms could pass. I read somewhere recently that “HIV virus is only 0.1 micron in size while the naturally occurring holes in a latex condom is of the order 5 to 50 microns in diameter.� Indeed, HIV is 500 times smaller than spermatozoa, yet research has established that spermatozoa are able to sometimes pass through the wall of a latex condom and cause pregnancy. Then tell me what happens with HIV? The example cited earlier of the worrisome rise in fresh infections of HIV in a place like the US despite the success of condom-use campaign would serve to buttress this point. So we better rouse ourselves from this lethal sleep and halt this brazen assault on public morality in the guise of protection of kids. Who knows who is inspiring this campaign? The ignorance displayed in the excerpt above is one reason it is imperative that everyone (not just kids) learn more about AIDS and other STDs and how to protect themselves. Please cite the specific studies and findings you refer to above. You do a great disservice when you pass misleading statements off as fact. Gosh I love your response! I have never been able to understand where a man that has been everywhere gets off jugding a lady who is not a virgin. The mysteries of this world! You hear the women being ridiculed for promiscuity or having sex with glo:idea: bosses to get hired and one wonders if the poor innocent bosses were raped or if they actually made the advances. I guess only promiscous women are vulnerable to STDS. Posted by Anike| 27.09.2006 17:49

Iphey  Villager

# 4 "I thought I was going to read an exciting treatise on the need for more male virgins in Nigeria, but alas, the author seems to believe the term virgin is synonymous with young woman. Who'd a thunk ;-)? Since the author is male, I suggest he focus on the uphill battle of instilling the concepts of "sexual morality" and abstinence in the young Nigerian male (it takes two to tango abi no be so?). That would indeed be an effort worthy of much applause." @ Tech Sisita ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tech Sista, I could actually, hug you right now. You know I thought I was the only one that noticed that notions of virginity and abstinence are only attributable to women in African parlance. I keep wondering whether these female virgin’s are loosing their virginity to ghosts and spirits.:confused: I also followed the Blo with pride thread, and I was shocked at the opinion of many of the male commentators there.. the general consensus was "well it is always the women's fault..." Please let those who do not want their son's to catch AID's teach their son's not to have sex with any female until they get married. It's that simple. Abstinence works both ways, and men can learn to say NO to sex too.:rolleyes: Meanwhile, Ugochukwu as TS and Anike said, we are waiting for source of the studies you cited before commenting on it. Posted by Iphey| 27.09.2006 18:33

katampe  Villager

# 5 "But the question to ask is: to what extent should the state interfere in my life and family? Where does the state derive the authority to invade my home with pernicious teachings, and inflict them on my kids, just because I gave them my kid to educate in their schools? " Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye Anike and Techsista, Above is the key question you both failed to answer in your commentaries." To what extent should the state interfere in my life and family? " That is the million dollar question. Anecdotal evidence seems less in support of this public sexual vehicle being driven round schools.For example from the guy's essay, he mentions the "Patito's gang," a collection of public commentators that derided the policy of sexual education.If this were to reflect a representative sample of the elites , then we can agree we can make an inference that the real stakeholders might not be in support of this new policy.I can haphazard a guess the less educated would frown at this new policy overwhelmingly. In any issue of public policy, a few folks determine policy direction of a country.And this is what students of policy making call policy "capture." The key players that influence policy are big businessnees, legislative , executive and interest groups like NGO's. So, how exactly has public opinion being sampled to arrive at this novel policy? Mind you, I am not entirely in agreement with the writer, because his essay assumes he is right in his argument.And Techsista pointed out the shoddy treatment/ support for his argument saying, " ...we know that when reduced to a very micro level, several objects, especially rubber and plastics, have tiny holes through which very minute micro organisms could pass " which lacks credibility. Also, my impression of the writer's tone is of someone that is paranoid.And he wasn't able to marshal enough facts to support his position because he based most of his arguments on suspicion. Generally, his argument is biased and indeed value-laden.But, then everyone else has their own perspective on the situation.But, it also does not remove his central argument of when is a state intervention warranted? That is the issue to focus on instead of the narrow minded path you have both focused on. Please let us help raise the level of debate. Posted by katampe| 27.09.2006 18:37

Soul Sista  Villager

# 6 TechSista and Anike: If you have read any of Mr. Ejinkeonye's articles bordering on morality and society, this article would NOT surprise you. Try these for size: http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/articles/454/1/Campaigns-Deadlier-Than-AIDS.html http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/articles/775/1/Banks-And-Their-Corporate-Prostitutes.html http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/articles/1020/1/Agbanis-Sickening-Folly.html I am one of his most dedicated readers, not neccessarily because I always agree with him. In fact, I disagree with him most of the time. I dislike the harsh, judgmental, and, often, abusive tone in which he usually expresses himself, even on issues on which I agree with him. I also dislike, as you have noted, his willingness to substitute his very strong opinions for facts, willy nilly. For crying out loud, look at the first paragraph: Any parent/grand-parent who does not agree with his views on the new sex education curriculum is not fit to be called a parent. For crying out loud!! Also, did you notice that no where in this article does he suggest what should be done about teaching children of the facts of life. If he is so concerned about the new curriculum, why won't he just state what he expects that they should be taught or at least, be honest and state that he expects children to be kept totally ignorant of the facts of life? Nevertheless, I read him very regularly because I do believe that his opinions are, sadly, representative of a cross section of Nigerian society of which one should be aware. I started reading him on a regular basis after being so gobsmacked by a, I think, four-part article that he wrote, entitled: Still a Malignant Cancer: Feminism in Literature And Society. Prior to reading that article, I had never realized the extreme hatred some people had for the much misunderstood whipping boy, feminism. However, I have since gotten over my ignorance. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find this article anywhere on the NET and, sadly, I cannot locate my copy on my new computer. Yes, I kept it :lol: Perhaps Mr. Ejinkeonye will do us the honors of reproducing it one of these days. Anyway, my sistas, despair not. Since it appears to some that society is comprised of only one gender, only that gender will change it! Soul Sista a/k/a Soul Sizzling Posted by Soul Sista| 27.09.2006 18:59

Anon 2.0

# 7 well well well I happen to know the primary NGO responsible for the introduction of sex ed in lagos schools as well setting up a curriculum. I'd like to say that they are not evil people like this man is suggesting and the executive director was only acting out of concern. I would also like to say stop being blind. open your eyes and see. do you know the average age of sexual debut in this country. go to the lagos high schools and ask for yourselves. see all these girls having sex with no education, no protection nothing! how many virgins are there among them, very little. furthermore, these kids are actually not being encouraged to have sex in case you did not know. condom usage is no longer being promoted in this age group. rather abstinence is. being faithful is promoted for married couples and those in committed relationships while condoms are promoted for at risk populations like gay males, truck drivers and prostititutes. furthermore, every effort is made to include teachers and students and parents in the development of such curricula. not only from lagos but from diverse ethnic groups and religious viewpoints. how do i know this? because i have been part of such an exercise. i also received sex ed in high school, and i am a better person for it today. has this man sat down in classes to see what is being taught. so you think sombody in jss3 or ss1 doesnt know about sex or is not having it. you are just deceiving yourself. it is best that they know that if they are having sex, here is how to have safer sex and if they are not, here is how to maintain abstinence. havent u seen all the zip up adverts around town. this man is being hysterical ojare, sex ed is a good thing. no one is forcing kids to have sex or teaching them evil things or titillating them. rather they are empowering them so that they know sex is a big deal and hold off till they can deal with the consequences. as for HIV virus size and condoms. the condoms are actually in a sense double bagged. there are two layers so that a natural occuring hole here is blocked by a second layer. of course not all holes may be blocked. but there is risk in everything. the condoms are tested. try it yourself. blow one up like a balloon, tie it real tight it should stay bouyant. Posted by Anon 2.0| 27.09.2006 19:04

tatafo  Villager

# 8 =Soul Sista;132359>TechSista and Anike: If you have read any of Mr. Ejinkeonye's articles bordering on morality and society, this article would NOT surprise you. Try these for size: http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/articles/454/1/Campaigns-Deadlier-Than-AIDS.html http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/articles/775/1/Banks-And-Their-Corporate-Prostitutes.html http://www.nigeriansinamerica.com/articles/1020/1/Agbanis-Sickening-Folly.html I am one of his most dedicated readers, not neccessarily because I always agree with him. In fact, I disagree with him most of the time. I dislike the harsh, judgmental, and, often, abusive tone in which he usually expresses himself, even on issues on which I agree with him. I also dislike, as you have noted, his willingness to substitute his very strong opinions for facts, willy nilly. For crying out loud, look at the first paragraph: Any parent/grand-parent who does not agree with his views on the new sex education curriculum is not fit to be called a parent. For crying out loud!! Also, did you notice that no where in this article does he suggest what should be done about teaching children of the facts of life. If he is so concerned about the new curriculum, why won't he just state what he expects that they should be taught or at least, be honest and state that he expects children to be kept totally ignorant of the facts of life? Nevertheless, I read him very regularly because I do believe that his opinions are, sadly, representative of a cross section of Nigerian society of which one should be aware. I started reading him on a regular basis after being so gobsmacked by a, I think, four-part article that he wrote, entitled: Still a Malignant Cancer: Feminism in Literature And Society. Prior to reading that article, I had never realized the extreme hatred some people had for the much misunderstood whipping boy, feminism. However, I have since gotten over my ignorance. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find this article anywhere on the NET and, sadly, I cannot locate my copy on my new computer. Yes, I kept it :lol: Perhaps Mr. Ejinkeonye will do us the honors of reproducing it one of these days. Anyway, my sistas, despair not. Since it appears to some that society is comprised of only one gender, only that gender will change it! Soul Sista a/k/a Soul Sizzling ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wow!!! I just started reading all of Mr. Ejinkoye's archived articles and I'm shocked and speechless at some of the rather archaistic, one sided, all knowing, superiority complex he exhibits in his writing. Why am I just discovering this writer? His ideas and discourse are quite exasperating, and underwhelming at thesame time… please let me go back and read the rest of his archived articles, before I come and discuss this present one.:redface: Posted by tatafo| 27.09.2006 19:31

Soul Sista  Villager

# 9 Anon 2.0 Thank you for speaking from the point of view of someone who has been involved in the sexuality education sphere. In my initial response, I just wanted to focus on letting people understand where Mr. Ejinkeonye is coming from. The much maligned NGO that is working with the Lagos State Government on the sexuality education curriculum is Action Health Inc. ("AHI"), primarily run by husband and wife team, Uwem and Nike Essiet. Here is AHI's website: http://www.actionhealthinc.org/index.htm I encourage people to review the website and visit, in particular, the TeenZone. Soul Sista a/k/a Soul Sizzling Posted by Soul Sista| 27.09.2006 21:51

Soul Sista  Villager

# 10 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anon 2.0 Thank you for speaking from the point of view of someone who has been involved in the sexuality education sphere. The much maligned NGO that is working with the Lagos State Government on the sexuality education curriculum is Action Health Inc. ("AHI"), primarily run by husband and wife team, Uwem and Nike Essiet. Here is AHI's website: http://www.actionhealthinc.org/index.htm I encourage people to review the website and visit, in particular, the TeenZone. Soul Sista a/k/a Soul Sizzling Posted by Soul Sista| 27.09.2006 22:22

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