Filmmaker advises parents on youth sexuality

A film producer, Mrs. Chichi Ikpeama, has advised parents to imbibe time management skills in order to cater to the needs of their children.Ikpeama said that many pupils who fall victims of sexual abuse are from families whose parents lead busy lives.She made this statement at a Broadcasters’ Forum on Youth Sexuality and Maternal Mortality in Lagos on Wednesday.The producer also unveiled a feature film titled, Unspoken, which explored the impact of youth sexuality and maternal mortality on school children at the event.Ikpeama said, “The film is about young girls having sex early either through early marriages or peer pressure and the medical issues that come after that. We are trying to raise awareness on the dangers and the film focused on research in the northern and southern part of the country.“Parents need to pay attention to their children and know what they are up to. Pupils talk to themselves and exchange ideas on many issues. The majority of them will go back to clarify and ask their parents, but the latter are so busy that they have little time for them. Peer pressure is real. Some may tell their friends to have sex or abortion because they has done it and nothing happened to them.”The film Director, Remi Richards, expressed concern that young girls bore a higher burden of maternal mortality and morbidity than older woman.She said, “Data shows that the average age at sexual debut is roughly 15 years among adolescent mothers in Nigeria and in the northern part of the country. The United Nations statistics show that pregnancy-related deaths are the leading cause of mortality for girls aged between 15 and 19.”The Project Officer, Ford Foundation, Prof. Paul Nwulu, said his organisation sponsored the film to address issues around the maternal mortality rate in the country.He called on other corporate establishments to sponsor a tour that will take the film to key schools and communities.“The Ford Foundation understands the power of visual storytelling in driving social change. This film is an example of how a well told story could address some of the issues we face in society today. We hope that everyone will get on board in ensuring that this film reaches all nook and cranny of this nation “he said.