HIV education through sport in Nigeria

Junior secondary girls in Nigeria were empowered using the power in sports as a universal language to educate young girls about HIV and how to prevent it. They were motivated and lectured on becoming change agents.

“You should stay away from sharp objects to avoid contracting deadly diseases”, Ms Nnenna Ibeh, a health practitioner told about 80 of the girls in the school. She also spoke about sex and avoiding contact with fresh blood. There was emphasis on not stigmatising people with HIV and she explained that the girls can shake them, hug them and do all other things apart from the above mentioned factors.

The girls learnt a new way of HIV/AIDS prevention and promised to avoid sharing of needles, blade, and other sharp objects.

Motivation and change
Miss Aderonke Ogunleye advised them on how to be different from the rest: “You should be proud because you're girl, you've got a lot of potential in you and you can become what you want to if you pursue your dreams and work very hard.

“Your life is what you make of it, if you study really hard you can buy a lot of things for yourself but if you don't work hard or study hard, you will still meet your life the way it is.”

One of them asked: “What if I want to become an astronaut – can I make a career out of it as a girl? I want to be the first female Nigerian girl that will visit the space.” She was applauded and was told that it's possible – all she needs to do is to work and study hard and to also avoid unnecessary distractions.

After more questions were taken, the team presented sporting materials to the school management, then the girls moved to the school field where they participated volleyball, aerobics and football.

The event shows how sport can be used to highlight the fact that every girl-child has the potential to become whatever they want to become and shouldn't be looked down upon because of their gender.

[This article has been edited by the Operating Team.]