(ALMOST) EVERYONE'S DOING IT

"Is it ok to have premarital sex?" That is a common question among teens and engaged couples. In your mind, you are probably weighing the pros and cons of premarital sex. On the positive side of the scale, there is acceptance from your peers, hope for pleasure, and the fulfillment of sexual desires.

The negative side of the scale carries the weights of morals, fear of pregnancy or disease, and guilt. How do these scales balance? What is the right decision?

A surprising new study shows Religious youths are having premarital sex and abortions as much (or more) than unreligious people.

Eighty percent of young, unmarried Christians have had sex. Two-thirds have been sexually active in the last year. Even though, according to a recent Gallup poll, 76 percent of evangelicals believe sex outside of marriage is morally wrong.

Grace Kay like other believers planned to save sex for marriage. She made it through high school with her virginity intact, but when she was 20 she started having sex with her college boyfriend.

“I was so enamored with my first boyfriend,” Kay says. “He was the first guy I really fell in love with, and suddenly all the barriers came down and I was way too vulnerable.”

Kay believes better role models may have helped her abstain, but even her Christian friends were having sex.

“It seemed everyone in my life, older and younger, had ‘done it,’ ” Kay says. “In fact, I waited longer than most people I knew and longer than both of my sisters, even though we were all Christians and came from a good home.”

Kay continued to have sex with her college boyfriend for years as they maintained an on-again/off -again relationship.

Stories like this aren’t often heard in church, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t common.

In fact, a recent study reveals that 88 percent of unmarried young adults (ages 18-29) are having sex.

The same study, conducted by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, reveals the number doesn’t drop much among Christians. Of those surveyed who self-identify as “evangelical,” 80 percent say they have had sex. So much for true love waits.

Why is this? Yes, sex is pleasurable, but in God's view, the primary purpose of sex is not recreation, but rather re-creation. In other words, sex is for reproduction. God does not limit sex to married couples to rob pleasure from those who are unmarried. Rather, God commands against premarital sex in order to protect unmarried people from unwanted pregnancies, from children born to parents who do not want them, and to protect children from parents who are not prepared for them. 

Imagine, for a moment, a world without premarital sex. There would be no sexually-transmitted diseases, there would be no un-wed mothers, there would be no unwanted pregnancies, there would be no abortions, etc.

Whatever Happened to Abstinence must be rekindled she concluded.

UNILAG’S HARVEST OF FIRST CLASS DEGREES

On Friday October 3, 2014, a 400-Level law student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Damilare Babajide, was rewarded with a new car alongside other unannounced mouthwatering perks for being the winner of the 2014 Miss UNILAG pageant, many gave organizers of the pageant thumbs up.

Meanwhile, the reward for success in that beauty pageant was many times better than what was given out to another female student, Zainab Olaitan, who towered above other contenders by winning the university’s debate on September 10, same year.

Olaitan, a 200 level student of Political Science, who emerged victorious from a very rigorous academic debate was handed a laptop computer with the sum of N100, 000 by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Rahamon Bello. The year before, the winner of the same debate, Ms. Mary Adegunloye, only went home with a cash prize of N50, 000 and a laptop computer.

Shortly after Babajide was presented with a car by the Director of Student Affairs (DSA), the social media was abuzz as students and others heavily criticized the disparity in gifts, stressing that it was tantamount to placing beauty over scholarship.

In fact, some students on campus claimed that the disparity in the value of gifts to winners of academic competitions, in comparison with that carted home by beauty queens was capable of lowering the morale of students.

A student of Mass communication, Famutimi Similoluwa said “They claim to promote education but they are all unserious people teaching young people to bring pleasure before work”.

The institution having seen the scenario reached out to the students and wrote boldly on a banner mounted beside the Sport Centre saying that serious minded students are still burning the midnight oil and getting rewarded for their efforts.

This, watchers of the development say is reflected in the number of graduates ending their undergraduate studies in the First Class Division.

Most students that gain admission into universities dream of graduating with first class degrees, but in most cases, even some that have the potential to do so are never disciplined enough to realize their potentials, as the class of degree a student earns is largely a function of self-application. A first class degree is earned when a student scores Cumulative Grade Point Average, (CGPA) of 4.50 and above upon graduation.

However, in the last five years, UNILAG has produced about 500 first class graduates, despite claims in many quarters that the standard of education in the country has either fallen or is falling.

Speaking in January, 2010 at a media briefing ahead of the 2009/2010 academic session, the vice chancellor of the institution, the late Prof Adetokunbo Sofoluwe informed that a total 89 student graduated with first class in 2008; 103 in 2009 and 87 students in 2010.

On that occasion he added, “It is important, therefore, at this juncture, to state that we are determined to continue our tradition of producing quality first class brains that can compete favorably with their equals in any part of the world.”

KOREDE BELLO: I WILL PERFORM GODWIN AGAIN

On Sunday, 5^th of April, the Mavin Records act Korede Bello was a guest minister at the Harvesters International Christian Centre in Lagos (HICC), where he performed his smash hit single, ‘Godwin.’

The performance generated mixed reactions from some of his fans and followers of Nigerian music. While some saw nothing wrong with him performing the song in a church, others felt he crossed the line as a secular act who mounted the sacred pulpit.

In an exclusive interview with NET, Korede Bello said he did not regret performing in church and if the opportunity presented itself again, he would gladly do it all over again.

“If you are the pastor of a church and you invite me to perform the song, yes I will perform the song again. It’s God’s song and whatever is happening now is predetermined, people are talking about God that’s all that matters,’” he said.

When asked if the song was designed to be a gospel song, he said: “From the inception of Godwin, I knew that it wasn’t my song, I knew that anything that’s for God has the potential of growing bigger than you imagine. It’s not quite a gospel song, it’s an inspirational song, what I mean by it’s for God is the fact that it’s dedicated to God. I don’t see it as my song, I see it as people’s song and I see it as a song for God” he further revealed.

The US-based pastor, Pastor OlusolaFabunmi of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of Faith in Maryland, has used Korede’s performance to question if secular musicians should be allowed to perform at gospel concerts, saying that the church was wrong to have invited Korede, who is not a gospel singer, to perform on their altar.

However, there has been a great pull to this church on social media especially on tweeter as many young people commented.

A student at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, PopoolaKehinde said “Those people are just being hypocritical. This is because Korede did not go to the altar to sing ‘Doro Buchi’ so; I humbly don’t know why they are speaking in that manner.

Meanwhile, thepastor of the HICC commented on the issue on Instagram describing the performance by Korede as an intentional action.

“I love those critiques regardless. Leave God to judge.”

CULTURE, COLOUR, FUN, GLAMOUR, AS LAGOS CARNIVAL 2015 UNFOLDS

Beauty, glamour, colour, fun and a rich display of the culture of Lagos state took central stage on Saturday the 25^th of April as various groups representing diverse communities and selected associations in Lagos put up a beautiful display at the TafawaBalewa Square Lagos as the 2015 Lagos Carnival took place.

On the day of the celebration, TafawaBalewa Square (TBS), the ancient memorial arcade, was agog. Diverse colors littered the atmosphere. The scene was a delight to behold, as thousands of Lagosians trooped into the arena to catch a glimpse of the glamorous event named the Lagos Carnival 2015.

Though the carnival which usually holds during the Easter was postponed as a result of the shift on the date for the last general election, Leadership Weekend observed that the event scenery presented an opportunity to seek out African roots. It was also a window to develop a new global cultural outlook and unity.

Amid low turnout recorded for this year’s event which commenced at about 10.am, the carnival still featured about 8,000 carnival contingents dressed in various costumes to reflect the coastal nature of the state. There was also a live musical band that thrilled the audience and theatrical performances from the dance troupe, the Sax and the Islanders.

As Lagosians relished the fun provided by the participants, the junior carnival procession moved through the National Musuem through to King George V Road, Igbosere, Ajele Stadium, Catholic Mission Street (CMS) to the TBS., while the adult carnival saw participants dressed in special costumes. They moved from Bourdillion Road to Giwa Barracks, Falomo Roundabout, Awolowo Road to TBS.

The participating adult carnival groups include, Lafiaji, Emeralds, Africarebeanna, Epetedo, OkoFaji, Locomotion, Obalende, Isale-Eko, Ogba, Woro Group, Ikeja, Surulere and Ilasamaja. Many of the members were predominantly made up of youths.

As the carnival climaxed, more and more visitors thronged the venue of the event. There was a capacity crowd of excited and prominent Lagosians and foreign tourists, including the Lagos state Governor, BabatundeFashola, his wife AbimbolaFashola, the Deputy Governor, Princess AdejokeOrelope- Adefulire and Professor Wole Soyinka, among others who witnessed the beautiful display and scintillating performances by various colorfully attired Fanti groups representing different areas.

The State Governor, Mr. BabatundeFashola (SAN) while addressing the large crowd made up of participants in the carnival processions and the spectators at the stands urged all of the sponsors, the participants, the designers and manufacturers of the costumes to continue to work hard to expand on what the present administration has done.

Our source, Youtube in a video observed that the carnival was witnessed by teeming local and international fun seekers in a well secured arena. To make it memorable for tourists and Lagosians, free buses were provided for by the state government, which were deployed to the various parts of the state to convey people to the Carnival.

Mr AdeogunAdeola, the chief organiser of the carnival, said that economically, carnivals could serve as the engine of economic growth and social development. He also stated that the carnival could generate N1 billion for the state. According to him, the show was part of efforts to make Lagos state a tourist destination.

Some Lagosians lamented as the looming fuel scarcity did not allow for many to attend the festival and that has attracted many comments. 

A resident, NzenwaAmaka who confronted the challenge posed by the fuel scarcity to attend the 2015 carnival with her family said “We just tried our best to attend this year’s carnival . It took me time to get fuel to drive my car to the carnival venue. I think that is what affected many people who could not come here this year. If we get our system right in this country, occasions like this will be something to look forward to every year.”

Another attendee, AfolabiGbonjubola comments on this issue…….

However,  BabatundeFashola, in his closing remark urged all of the sponsors, the participants, the designers and manufacturers of the costumes to continue to work hard to consolidate on what the present administration has done.

The governor described the day as a great family day where all the children, parents family members came out to dance, sing, and display. He stressed that a nation that has so many young people needs many more of this kind of activity to expend the energies and channel them to productive purposes. He lauded the organizers and those who participated in the event including the many sponsors whom he said the state government was deeply grateful to.

He said that this year’s edition is the last time he would be addressing the carnival as the Governor. He expressed optimism that during the next year’s Carnival, the Governor- Elect, AkinwunmiAmbode, would be present to keep the tradition going.

Fashola also said that “We have built a great team and it couldn’t have happened without you.

 So for me, it is time to say thank you all very much. You have been wonderful over the years and it is also time to say good bye”.