Onelife Initiative flags off ‘Campus Wey Sabi campaign’

600 undergraduate students from tertiary institutions in Nigeria will be directly benefitting from the Campus Wey Sabi campaign.

The project, an initiative of Onelife Initiative, a non-governmental organisation focused on improving the wellbeing of young people will be berthing in tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom and Oyo State, Nigeria.

With support from Ipas, the project seeks to address the widening gap in poor sexual and reproductive health and rights of majorly female undergraduates caused by lack of information.

According to the Executive Director of Onelife Initiative, ‘Sola Fagorusi, “the project became important because of today’s reality of undergraduate students, particularly those that are resident off-campus. It is clear that with limited hostel infrastructure on most campuses, sexual relationships off-campus between students are unrestrained given the freedom that undergraduate life provides. What we have seen from our baseline studies is that consequences such as Sexually Transmitted Infections, and also unplanned pregnancies are rampant. In some situations, the latter leads to loss of life when unsafe methods are used to end the pregnancy.”

He said students of the following institutions will be benefitting from the project — University of Uyo, Uyo; The Polytechnic Ibadan, Ibadan; University of Ibadan, Ibadan; Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Oyo State College of Agriculture, Igboora; Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afahansit and Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo.

“Advocacy visits have been paid to student bodies on the selected campuses and some institutions’ administrative leadership to ensure ownership of the project. The sessions will be facilitated by SRHR professionals including an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.”

“The 4-hour event on each campus will feature video screening, group work sessions, anonymous question sessions, and networking amongst students while lunch, transport support, and souvenirs will also be provided for shortlisted participants.

“Campus Wey Sabi hopes to take the conversation of choices for undergraduates to the next level ensuring healthy and no-holds discussion on sexual and reproductive health issues that are not taught by the major agents of socialisation but yet determine the quality of life of students; especially the female student. While it is a unisex programme, the organisers are targeting 80% female undergraduate participation,” he said in a statement.