A significant part of our culture as Nigerians is learning about important things a lot later than we ought to. If you’re a millennial or an older Gen Z and you’ve wondered how the ‘kids’ are being safe sexually and how much they know about contraceptives, you’re on the right page. 

In this article, 8 university students tell us whether they use contraceptives, how they use them, and l how they gained their knowledge on contraceptives. They also provide guidance on how best to fill the knowledge gap. 

1. “It Doesn’t Feel Nearly the Same”—Amanda*, 18

I don’t generally use condoms. The experience just feels so much better without them. It doesn’t feel nearly the same. Whenever a sexual partner brings out condoms, I just cross my fingers hoping for the best. Right now, I’m only active with one person, and he pulls out. That’s good enough for me. I didn’t receive any sex education growing up, and I can’t say it would have made much of a difference if I had. I enjoy the feeling and don’t think contraceptives are for me.

2. “Let Them Know Their Options”—Richard*, 19

The only form of sex education I got was from church and school. The gist was basically, don’t do it, abstain, and it’s a sin. Nothing else was said. I think it’s most important to educate people on the different kinds of contraceptives, the upsides and the downsides and which ones would work for them and their relationships. Sexuality is so fluid these days, and people are so different, it won’t be a one-size-fits-all situation. People need to start talking to one another and not wait until they’re in university. Delaying only fills the time between our teenage years and adulthood with nonsense from outside sources. 

3. “Stop Sugarcoating Things”—Annie*, 18

When I hear contraceptives, the first thing that comes to my mind is birth control. I didn’t have any sex education growing up. Everything I know, I taught myself learnt from friends, going online or just from being outside. I think we need to stop sugarcoating things. Be straight up with young people and teenagers when they get to a certain stage, and tell them how to handle themselves and be safe in a sexual context, rather than trying to protect their innocence and allowing them to be ignorant. Whenever we start talking about private parts or abstaining, we need to say things as they are. 

4. “Sex-ed Needs to be in School Curricula”—Kyle*, 22

Growing up, I went abroad for a portion of my high school years, and I can confidently say that the difference in sex education is staggering. I took sex-ed as a course. Having that basis of education has done wonders for how safe I am with my body. My knowledge made the process of transitioning into being more sexually active so much easier. Rather than having all of this stigma around sexual relationships, we need to be able to relay this information in a structured and constructive way. I think the school is the best place to do that. 

5. “Why should a Girl Take a Pill for Me?”—August*, 18

I always use condoms when having sex. I grew up in a really strict household and never got any form of sexual education. Everything I know I found out from other sources. I will say that I never let my partners take birth control pills or get implants, exclusively for me. If it’s something they decide to do on their own, great. I just feel like it’s unfair. Why does she have to stress herself just to sleep with me? I have no problem wrapping myself up, and I don’t think she needs to mess with her hormones. It’s not worth it. If I could take the pills, I would.

6. “I didn’t know Plan B should be a Last Resort”—Ngozi*, 19

I didn’t get any form of sex education growing up. I use Postinor as my form of birth control. I honestly didn’t know until this very conversation that it’s supposed to be an emergency contraceptive, not something to rely on consistently. Sometimes I think if I had been educated properly on sex, I wouldn’t be nearly as sexually active as I am right now. We need to de-stigmatise these topics. The older I get, the more I realise how much I don’t know. And the thing is, it only gets worse with each generation. Imagine what people younger than me are doing and how unsafe they might be because of what they don’t know. 

7. “My go-to Method is Pulling Out”—Uche*, 18

My go-to method is pulling out. I’ve tried condoms, Plan B, pills, but that always seems to be my default. Most of the things I know about sex, I learnt in early university or late high school years. I think the best place to have learned about sex was in secondary school. I don’t think learning about these things earlier would have made much of a difference to my sex life. But I do know it would make a lot of other people’s lives easier. Honestly, it probably would have made me wiser as well.

8. “My Family Taught Me a Lot”—Eze*, 20

In my earlier days learning about sex, I had my sister, my mom, and YouTube. In the last 2 years, my dad has taught me about sex. It was extremely weird to learn the things that I did, to be honest, but I do think that it helped me in the long run. When it comes to being safe, I know what my priorities should be. Getting my partners and me tested and always making sure to use condoms. I think it’s extremely important to educate young people on these things, however embarrassing it may be. I’m glad my family didn’t let that deter them from telling me what I needed to know. Imagine not educating someone on sex because it’s embarrassing. People need to do better. 

Our Thoughts

One thing about teenagers and young adults, if they want to do something, they’re going do it anyway. No amount of sheltering or religion is going to stop them from exploring their bodies when they leave the home. Let them explore with the knowledge to do so safely. Children need to be educated with the appropriate information. Let them learn to be careful with sex. Not hide from it. 

Read Next: “I Don’t Think Post-Nut Clarity Exists”- 10 Nigerians On Feelings After Sex