Members of the LoveWorld Ministry of Information have raised concerns over what they described as the inclusion of LGBTQ-related issues and other sexuality-related content in Nigeria’s school curriculum.
The group expressed concern about what it called the increasing sexualisation of educational materials and its potential impact on children, urging parents to take a more active role in monitoring what their children are taught.
The concerns were raised at a Global Town Hall Meeting organised by the LoveWorld Ministry of Information in Lagos, themed “Delivering and Protecting Children Globally from Satanic Curriculums & Agenda.”
The meeting brought together legal practitioners, policy experts, child advocates and LoveWorld representatives to discuss comprehensive sexuality education, parental rights, curriculum development, international policies and digital content.
LoveWorld said it was mobilising more than 400 child advocates globally to develop an alternative curriculum in response to what it considers inappropriate sexuality education content.
Speaking at the event, Legal Adviser to the Center for African Policy Research and Advisory, Sonnie Ekwowusi, alleged that some Nigerian secondary school materials contain lessons touching on homosexuality, lesbianism, masturbation, sterilisation and sexual orientation.
“Today, we have talked about the danger in teaching Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Nigeria’s secondary schools. We have highlighted the fact that topics such as masturbation, sterilisation, breast enlargement, homosexuality and lesbianism are being taught to boys and girls in Nigerian schools,” Ekwowusi said.
He urged parents to examine their children’s textbooks and challenge materials they consider inappropriate.
According to him, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council is responsible for curriculum development, urging parents to direct their concerns to the council.
The Executive Director of the Center for African Policy Research and Advisory, Dr Segun Adebayo, said many parents struggle to monitor their children’s education because of demanding work schedules.
He argued that the situation could leave parents unaware of what their children are being taught in school.
Adebayo called for increased public awareness and parental involvement in education policy, while advocating the proposed African Charter on Family Values and Sovereignty as a possible framework for protecting what its proponents describe as African family values.
Executive Minister of Education, LoveWorld, Dr Afolabi Oketunji, disclosed that the organisation was developing its own curriculum and educational materials in collaboration with teachers and parents.
“We have to redefine. They introduced it; we will introduce the right curriculum,” Oketunji said.
He said LoveWorld intended to produce educational materials through its publishing ministry and promote what it described as a Christ-centred approach to education.
Oketunji also said the organisation planned to retrain teachers and educators to help them better understand the curriculum and involve parents in the curriculum-awareness process.
President of Family Watch International, Sharon Slater, also criticised the promotion of sexual and reproductive health programmes involving comprehensive sexuality education and issues relating to sexual orientation and gender identity.
“Parents are the first and most important educators of their children,” Slater said.
She also questioned the influence of international development assistance and donor funding on education and health policies in African countries.
International law expert Greg Slater challenged the claim that international law requires countries to introduce comprehensive sexuality education in schools.
“There is no international legal right to Comprehensive Sexuality Education. There is also no international treaty that requires countries to introduce CSE into their schools,” he said.
He urged parents to remain vigilant, examine educational materials and find out what their children are being taught.
A member of the Governing Council of the African Bar Association, Richard Kakeeto, similarly distinguished between legally binding international treaties and policy recommendations, describing the latter as “soft law.”
Kakeeto urged African countries to scrutinise policies affecting children and ensure that they are consistent with their constitutions, laws and international obligations.
Meanwhile, Executive Minister of Children’s Affairs, LoveWorld, Christine Okechukwu, disclosed plans to establish a Global Parents Forum to strengthen parental involvement in issues affecting children.
She said the organisation also planned to train child advocates and produce music, animation, games and other content that it considers positive alternatives for children.
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Also speaking through Pastor Tayo Tubo, the Minister of Kiddies Media Ministry, Mrs Jessie Kalu, warned that the debate over children’s education extends beyond the classroom because of their exposure to digital platforms.
“Our children are consuming content every day, so we must intentionally give them the right content,” Tubo said.
He highlighted LoveWorld’s children-focused digital materials, including videos, songs, stories and educational content, as part of the organisation’s response to what it considers harmful influences.
The speakers called on parents to take a more active role in monitoring both educational materials and digital content accessed by their children.
LoveWorld said it would also expand its curriculum, teacher-training, publishing and child-focused initiatives while engaging government institutions and other stakeholders on greater parental participation in decisions concerning children’s education.
