Group mobilises youths against sexual deviance ahead of Valentine’s Day

Centre for Defence of Morality (CDM), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has mobilised 3,000 teenagers and youths in Lagos State against sexual deviance.

The mobilisation is part of activities to mark the year 2025 annual ‘Chastity Parade’ Programme, held on Sunday at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

Supreme news reports that the NGO mobilised the teens and young people to declare their stand for sexual purity and abstinence from all forms of moral decadence.

Mr Nkem Chima, International President, CDM, in his remarks said that the annual mobilisation of the teens and young people was channelled toward changing the identity of Feb. 14, from lovers day to morality day.

According to him, the programme has been in existence for 13 years and is designed to unite young people against sexual deviance and other social vices, like prostitution, early pregnancy, drug abuse and others.

“Every year, the Chastity Parade convenes about 6,000 teenagers and youths in all our locations both locally and internationally.

“We have them in Lagos, Aba, Ghana and Ivory Coast, through which they assemble with one voice to reinforce their decisions and vows of abstinence from sex till wedding night.

“New members are made to make new pledges and awareness against societal vices that can truncate their future purposes,” he said.

Chima said that the purpose was to nurture them from the younger age to channel them toward their future goals.

He added that the youth moral nurturing had yielded tremendous progress since 13 years of inception.

“We have put in place various means of doing follow-up with the youth by participating in our annual seven day boot camp where different morals will be taught.”

He said that the annual programme had also reduced the increase in teenage pregnancy, sexual abuse and sexually transmitted diseases.

In his remarks, Peter Udekele, the associate convener of the annual programme, said that the event had impacted positively on thousands of youths both home and internationally.

“The feedback we receive constantly shows we are progressing in the course of eradicating immorality among our young ones.

“The society at large has been corrupt, there’s moral decadence everywhere, that’s why we are working harder to ensure our society is sanitised from diverse immorality.

“So, we established this programme to create awareness, help the youth and teenagers to be protected, enlightened and focused on their future plans and programmes.

“The majority of our youths in the past have made a lot of mistakes, by having unwanted pregnancy, drug and substance addictions, but we are creating awareness, by educating them to shun the deviance and be focused in their future plans,” he said.

Also, Uche John, the Project Director, advised teenagers and youths to embrace the slogans, ‘No Wed No Bed’; ‘Chose chastity until’; ‘Say no to sex before Marriage’; and ‘Yes to Purity’.

Mr Chucks Adike, International Director, CDM, noted that efforts of the group was to ensure the youth did not lose focus on their future goals and objectives.

“This is not just advocacy but empowerment to ensure the youth are well trained in digital, economics and vocational skills, to divert their attention from crime and other social vices,” he said.

Inioluwa Akande, one of the participants, thanked the organisers for the exposure and enlightenment on abstinence.

According to her, the annual programme will help the teeming youth to channel and focus on their future plans rather than chase present gratifications that ruin further goals.

Akande said that the positive decisions and vow of purity would help her to progress in her academic career and be more focused.