These have made it imperative for the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FACH), a Non-profit Governmental Organisation (NGO), to collaborate with the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) in changing the narrative by sensitising, informing and guarding the youth against external influences from some international organisations, most especially those that promulgate LGBT agenda in contradiction of the African Cultural and religious beliefs, thereby contributing to the collapse of family values.
Nigeria is said to have a 'youth bulge', with over 6O per cent of its population between ages 15 and 35 years. This implies that the country has huge human resources, which, if properly harnessed, are capable of restoring its pride of place among the comity of nations.
Unfortunately, young people are confronted with various challenges that continually hinder them from reaching their maximum potential. These include increased rate of drug abuse and addiction, pornography, prostitution, unemployment, promiscuity, eroding societal values among other issues have left a good number of youths devastated.
These have made it imperative for the Foundation for African Cultural Heritage (FACH), a Non-profit Governmental Organisation (NGO), to collaborate with the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) in changing the narrative by sensitising, informing and guarding the youth against external influences from some international organisations, most especially those that promulgate LGBT agenda in contradiction of the African Cultural and religious beliefs, thereby contributing to the collapse of family values.
Through a two-day conference tagged 'Responding to the Challenges of Youth, family and society: The Millennial's Response', various speakers drawn from within and outside the country, including Catholic Bishops of Enugu, Awka and Nsukka, urged parents to embrace the challenge of training their children in line with the principles of the church, as bad parenting and neglect is bedevilling the future of young people.
President, Catholic Women Organisation, Nigeria, Barrister Nwanneka Okolo; President, World Youth Alliance, Anna Halpine and Director, Quality Assurance And Research Development Agency, Dr Tessy Okafor, raised concerns about teaching "comprehensive sexuality education" in primary and secondary schools, which they say exposes children to the use of contraceptives at an early age. They warned that bizarre and wrong sexual orientation encourages abuse of their sexuality and in the long run are harmful to the development of the children, thereby promoting LGBT agenda alien to African culture.
The conference exposed participants to tactics employed by these International Donor Agencies in funding distribution contraceptives and condoms in schools and among young people.
Examples of how they penetrate lawmaking arm of government were cited during the conference.
Legislators in the country were advised to be on the alert and acquire adequate knowledge on the terminologies and words that suggest LGBT rights, as found in some bills brought before national and state assemblies.
Other pro-life advocates, including directors of FACH, Dr Nkechi Asogwa, Dr Regina Akosa and member Mrs Ifeyinwa Agwu, among others, highlighted the importance of upholding "human dignity", which they described as the basis for "human rights".
Participants were enlightened by experts on health and psychological problems associated with using contraceptives for family planning and IVF. They were encouraged to embrace and spread the message of natural and safe methods of conception and child spacing to safeguard the health of African women.
These international organisations were urged to assist the country in fixing its infrastructural deficit as against funding initiatives detrimental to population growth and maternal health.
Despite the misconceptions by today's society about abstinence, which is often considered archaic, youth are being advised at the to embrace chastity as the pathway to happy marriage.
Youths were also encouraged to imbibe virtues that will strengthen their personalities and self-confidence such as volunteering. They were told to implore the effective and active use of social media to promote values and evangelise the message of Christ.