Sure you had a great weekend my dear friends. I did. I spent my Saturday speaking to a group of young people in Lagos. I spoke to them about their rights and responsibilities in a democracy. I think we had fun discussing rights and responsibilities. I think one of these days I will share with you some of the things we discussed.
Lest I forget, this week is valentine. It is the week of love. Yet, valentine is a day that is usually abused by young people like you. Young people give themselves to huge immorality in the name of love. Permit me to share with you two major facts about love. The first is that love does not destroy. Love builds. Love does not take away your dignity. Love empowers you. Love does not make you trade the glory of your future for today fleeting pleasure. Lastly, I need you to understand that if love is sweet, responsibility is the spice. I charge you to live responsibly this season and at all times. Do not be deceived, as I have said before on this page, your body as a child (any one below 18) is not made for sex; your mind cannot handle sex. Therefore do not be distracted. Make the pursuit of your future, your priority today and always.
Wow! Our space is far spent. I will briefly touch on few tips on personal safety/self-protection from road traffic related accidents.
Here is the 5th tip to take very serious: do not take a ride with a stranger. It is called a lift. Do not ride with a stranger. In most cases, men do offer young girls a ride and in some cases, women do offer young boys a ride. My advice to you is that you must not accept such offer of a ride from a stranger. You may think you have found a free ride. There is no free ride anywhere. Any time you look for anything free from those who are not supposed to owe you anything, you always lose more than you get. Many children and young persons have been sexually molested, sold to ritual killers, robbed, swindled, and driven to unknown destinations while taking a lift from strangers. I charge you today to desist from it. When you go out, make sure you hold your
I think our time is spent today. I advise that we continue this discussion next week. I am available for your questions. I charge you to stay SMART! Do have an INSPIRED week.
Taiwo Akinlami is a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, foremost Child Protection Specialist, Consultant to UNICEF, governments, and other leading national and international organisations on Child Protection, Independent Legal and Social Regulatory Expert on Child’s Rights and Responsibilities Issues, Legal Enlightenment & Development Enthusiast, Researcher, Social Empowerment Advocate, Author, Blogger and an accredited facilitator of the British Council School Leadership Program. Website: www.taiwoakinlami.com│Blog: www.taiwoakinlami.wordpress.com│Twitter: @taiwoakinlami