Media and Commucation skills workshop, Abuja, Nigeria.


The workshop was organized by BBC, UNCIEF, UNAIDS, Ministry of Youth Inter Government Affairs and special duties, Nigeria. Participants were drawn from States in Nigeria. Jasper Oei Assistant Programme Officer HIV/AIDS of the UNCIEF Spoke at the opening session on the need for young people to motivate them selves and Empower others who are infected , and create more information strategies . Christine from BBC Head of Project she spoke on the objectives of the workshop, which is on building the capacity of young people living with HIV/AIDS, on media skills, positive living. In her speech she noted that BBC has been working in Nigeria for a long period and currently working on a project that will Educate, Empower, and builds the skills of Nigeria young people who are living with HIV/AIDS in partnership with UNICEF and other government agencies.

Mr. Emmanuel Aihassan of NACA, spoke on the HIV/AIDS situation in Nigeria which with the current prevalence rate Nigeria has growing from its pervious rate from 5.0% in 2005 to 4.4% in 2005 , while cross Rivers state that herd the highest rate from 12% in 2003 – 6.1%, while Benue state with the highest rate of 10%. This is as a change in Behavioral change etc.
He also talked about the trends affecting the Rural and Urban Ratio’s of Nigeria as a result of Unemployment, Cultural factors, social factors which includes poverty, lack of health facilities etc.

Jasper of UNICEF talked about the unite for children Global Campaign; he said “As young people we need to be advocates for children against AIDS in our various communities”. It’s to note that Nigerian children fifteen dies each day/ minute.
As young people we need to get involved in this campaign we need to empower our selves by knowing the four major components of the campaign which is the “Four ps” which includes: Primary prevention, prevention -of- mother-to- child- Transmission (PMTCT), Paediatric treatment, and protection, care support for children affected by HIV.AIDS. As young people there are two important ps we need to look at and that’s Participation and Partnership which will make this campaign fulfill its Goals.

We also look at Sex and Gender/Human Rights which has a major role to play in our lives as young people. We need to be motivate by our gender activates. Their was a Role play as young people play major vital positions which was geared at mainstreaming the gender balance among young people and the society. As young people we have major role to play when it comes to our Rights and HIV/AIDS, our sex determents what social roles you have or play as a young person.
There was a presentation from National Youth network in HI/AIDS in Nigeria (NYNETHA) by the National co oridinator Dr Yaka Sai. This was geared at improving the national networks in Nigeria and working with other networks around the country.
Young people came up with different slogans like “keep morals up, Think positively, and Delay sex, AIDS Kills.” Etc, etc.

Young people living with HIVAIDS were taught on media skills for
effective participation, also building the capacity of positive youths on
how the media prepares its programme, BBC has a programme “FLAVA” which
is currently on Air in Nigeria is aimed at campaigning against
stigmatization, Advocacy, Information sharing among Nigerian Youths on
HIV/AIDS.
Young people need to passionate about what they say, and Do people
living with HIV/AIDS should be accorded equal rights irrespective of
their gender, we should not lower our self esteem but rather improve that
was the statement of Joan Tull of BBC to the participants during a
working group session .
Young People were taught on how to use Accurate Terminology When
reporting, interviewing, programme development, speaking skills were also
aught at the workshop.
The development of youth programme that will suit the young people
were developed , slogans, we also learnt on how to face the set(Camera)
on Television show’s which yielded to a filed work by participants on
the streets of Abuja, Nigeria .
Young people studied how to balance information, entertainment,
presenter style and what issues would be discovered during the course of
the programme.

The media and communication skills workshop is the first of it’s kind
in Nigeria for Young people living with HIV/AIDS, the training is the
first of it's kind for young people living with HIV/AIDS I have ever
seen in Nigeria, it is a real capacity and developmental training, we
youths are empowered now, its high time we start presenting programmes on
radio and Television, we should be tired of being the guest on the show,
BBC/UNICEF has empowered us to face the challenges.
Young people living with HIV are to be in the forefront in
prevention and the control of stigma and discrimination in our country and
beyond.

Always remember to tell Ur friends that "A TEST IN TIME SAVES LIFE'.
If we must make a difference then we must be in the "DRIVERS SEAT" to
make the difference.
There is also the need for us to bear in mind what Koffi Annan said "
AIDS Attack the body, prejudice attacks the spirit, one is caused by a
virus, the other is caused by ignorance, BOTH CAN KILL!!!" and Peter
Piot, of UNAIDS, "Responding to HIV & AIDS with shame or abuse towards
people living with HIV & AIDS simply forces the epidemic underground,
creating the ideal condition for the epidemic to spread. The only way of
making progress against the epidemic is to replace SHAME with SOLIDARITY
and fear with HOPE", with this in our mind that a lot of people are
dying because of stigma and discrimination, let us go into the field and
WORK.
The “FLAVA” is aired in twenty Radio stations n Hausa Language which
called “YA TAKE NA” while forty seven Radio stations in English
languages which is called”FLAVA”
A total of Twenty Eight young people attended the workshop and GYCA
hired Five of its members present at the workshop. The workshop hired
young people in various fields such as journalist, youth Activist, and Academia’s.