Inadequate and incorrect information in the area of sexual related issues, has remained a challenge that has continued to lead young people into making uninformed choices which puts them in a vulnerable position. This prompted the need to put together a 3-day workshop for in and out of school adolescent girls and boys between the ages of 15 to 20, with the theme ‘’.…knowing what matters most!’’. The event which took place from the 20^th – 22^nd November 2014, was sponsored by the World Council of Churches, at Bishop’s Court in Jos, the Plateau State Capital.

One of the objectives of the event was to create a platform for discussion among adolescents, around positive and negative behaviors in relationships and challenge themselves to rethink what is constitutes acceptable behaviour in their relationships. This will pave the way for changes that will bring about greater equality among men and women.

Age appropriate Sexual and Reproductive Health information was considered in the course of the event as one of the key factors that enable young people make informed choices around sexuality issues. The diverse group of young people who participated in the event, identified the need for availability and access to conducive non-judgmental spaces to share and discuss issues of concern among young people. They also identified the need for access to the right information around these concerns without any form of discrimination.

One of the sessions focused on the need to promote positive communication with and among young people as a means of support towards adopting safer behaviors that will in turn reduce the risks in infection and high rate of new infections in HIV and AIDS, STDs, unplanned pregnancy, and early marriage among others.

Sarah Choji, a YWCA young woman and one of the organizers of the event shares her thoughts on one of the key topics discussed: “Good communication is essential for our happiness as well as our survival. Being able to appropriately communicate thoughts, feelings, needs and desires is a skill that can help young people build self-confidence, solve problems, resolve conflict and protect themselves from unwanted sexual advances”.

Both female and male participants in attendance identified that many adolescents are afraid to ask about their sexual development or feelings since in many cultures it remains largely a taboo topic for young people. This leads to the eventual acquisition of false information from peers or from television, music, movies, etc. Young people who have been sexually abused never tell anyone about their experience because they blame themselves.

It was agreed among participants that healthy relationships and good communication involves having confidence, good verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and listening skills. As such, young people should take advantage of opportunities available to develop these valuable skills, to help them in fully participating in social or academic lives.

The group identified creating awareness as a first step in eliminating negative gender norms and behaviors which put young women and girls at risk and contribute to their vulnerability to violence, abuse and discrimination. They committed themselves to becoming agents of the change they want to see in their immediate communities and sharing the acquired knowledge with their friends and other young people.