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A Proposal for the Establishment of a

YOUTH-FRIENDLY CENTRE

At

The OAU DISTANCE LEARNING

PRE-DEGREE CAMPUS,

MORO.

Osun State, Nigeria.

Proponent:

Omisope, F.P
1
(c) 2011

OAU Distance Learning Youth-Friendly Centre: A Proposal | (234) 0803 678 3846.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. BACKGROUND .............................................................................................. 3

2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION.............................................................................. 3

3. JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT ………………………….……………….. 4

4. OBJECTIVES OF THE YOUTH-FRIENDLY CENTRE ……………..………… 4

5. CHOICE OF IMPLEMENTATION SITE ……………………………………...…. 5

6. FACILITIES .................................................................................................... 6

7. COST AND SPONSORSHIP........................................................................... 6

8. BENEFITS TO THE DISTANCE LEARNING CENTRE ................................. 8

9. LINKAGES, MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION .................................8

10. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................9

11. REFERENCES ............................................................................................. 10

OAU Distance Learning Youth-Friendly Centre: A Proposal | (234) 0803 678 3846.
1. BACKGROUND

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with an estimated population of

approximately 150 million people. About 5% of Nigerians are infected with HIV

(NACA, 2011). In other words, about one in every twenty people in Nigeria is

infected with HIV. The rate of infection is highest among the youths (aged 15 – 24

years) who make up over 30% of the country’s population.

Youths in Nigeria are at an increased risk of HIV/AIDS because of inadequacy of

information and counselling services. In spite of the apparent increase in awareness

about HIV/AIDS through the activities of government and various advocacy groups, it

is evident that most of these efforts lack the kind of sustained commitment that is

required for long-term success in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The prevalence of HIV is increasing among youths because of inadequate education

on how to prevent transmission of the virus. This project seeks to create a forum to

unify and educate students of the OAU Distance Learning Pre-degree Campus on

issues relating to their sexual reproductive health.

The project aims to provide information and awareness through a comprehensive

and pragmatic approach to the problem of HIV/AIDS, primarily among students of

the Pre-degree Campus and consequently, among members of the larger

community. This will be achieved through a consistent and systematic administration

of activities, programs and events within the context of a Youth-Friendly Centre.


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OAU Distance Learning Youth-Friendly Centre: A Proposal | (234) 0803 678 3846.
3. JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT

The fact that youths are not often considered in decisions regarding HIV/AIDS

programs has greatly undermined the effectiveness of such programs. A Youth-

Friendly Centre offers comprehensive solutions to this and other problems

associated with conventional strategies of anti-HIV/AIDS campaign especially among

youths. In spite of the emphasis being laid on curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS by the

global community, there are strong indications that a large percentage of the

Nigerian population is yet to come to terms with this reality.

For instance, some unscrupulous people have impudently ‘rebranded’ AIDS as

‘American Invention for Discouraging Sex.’ As humorously innocuous as this change

of terminology may seem, it has great potentials to reverse whatever positive result

that has been recorded so far in the fight against HIV/AIDS especially among youths.

Consequently, it becomes vitally necessary to provide youths with information

overload to enable them make the right decision. This is what this project seeks to

do.

4. OBJECTIVES OF THE YOUTH-FRIENDLY CENTRE

The Youth-Friendly Centre aims to create innovative ways to target young people as

a force for change in reversing the trend of the HIV/AIDS pandemic through the

following objectives:

 Mobilizing community support for active participation of young people in HIV

prevention campaigns and policy making, including support for people living
4
with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), through advocacy to policy makers, and

OAU Distance Learning Youth-Friendly Centre: A Proposal | (234) 0803 678 3846.
sensitization of religious leaders and community leaders on the roles of young

people on HIV/AIDS.

 Strengthening capacity of youths on HIV prevention, care and support.

 Strengthening the capacity of parents to effectively communicate with young

people about HIV/AIDS and sexuality issues.

 To change the behavioural needs of youths on matters concerning Sexual

Reproductive Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

 Integration of youth programmes on HIV/AIDS into existing HIV/AIDS

programmes.

 Supporting linkages with other existing HIV/AIDS programmes and

committees, such as Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT), Anti-retroviral

therapy (ARV), State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA), National Action

Committee on AIDS (NACA) and other advocacy groups.

 Development of an effective monitoring and evaluation plan.

 Development of programmes to harness the full potential and leadership skills

among youths.

5. CHOICE OF IMPLEMENTATION SITE

For a program of this nature, potentials for productive execution and long-term

success are very high in a multi-cultural setting with a predominantly youthful

population. Such enabling environment is provided by the OAU Distance Learning 5

Pre-degree Campus, hence the selection of the centre as the implementation site.

OAU Distance Learning Youth-Friendly Centre: A Proposal | (234) 0803 678 3846.
6. FACILITIES

The project is designed to be very attractive and appealing to youths with diverse

tastes and values. Hence, the Youth-Friendly Centre will be structured in such a way

as to cater to the needs of a very broad spectrum of youths through the provision of

the following facilities:

 Cybercafe

 Reading room

 Chill room

 Counselling room

 Indoor games

 Satellite television

 Computer games

7. SPONSORSHIP AND COST ESTIMATE

An estimate of the cost of the project based on current market rates is provided

below:

a. Capital Expenditure

Cost
S/No Item
(N)
6

1 10 Desktop Computers 750 000

OAU Distance Learning Youth-Friendly Centre: A Proposal | (234) 0803 678 3846.
2 Printer 26 000

3 Copier 45 000

4 Scanner 21 000

Furniture
5 84 000
(Chairs, tables, book shelves, file cabinets)

Indoor Games

6 (Table Tennis, Chess, Ludo, Monopoly, Draught, Computer 29 000

games)

7 Generator 60 000

8 TOTAL 1, 015, 000

b. Recurrent Expenditure.

Recurrent expenditure will cover such costs as internet subscription, DSTV

subscription, fuel for power generation (in case of power outage), workers’ salaries

and general/routine maintenance. These costs will be based on a budget which will

be determined from time to time by the Distance Learning Centre in conjunction with

the administrative staff of the Youth-Friendly Centre.

c. Office Block
7
It is absolutely essential to have an office block that will serve as the physical

address of the Youth-Friendly Centre.

OAU Distance Learning Youth-Friendly Centre: A Proposal | (234) 0803 678 3846.
The Distance Learning Centre does not necessarily have to bear the costs of project

implementation. Sponsorship may be sought from socially responsible corporate

bodies such as banks and telecommunication companies who would readily assist

the centre through the provision of such items as internet facility, desktop computers,

office equipment and office block. Such participating organisations would afford

themselves special benefits such as increased patronage and improved social

standing.

8. BENEFITS TO THE DISTANCE LEARNING CENTRE

Acceptance of this proposal and subsequent implementation of the project (Youth-

Friendly Centre) will afford the OAU Distance Learning Centre the following benefits:

1. It will further establish the status of the OAU Distance Learning Centre as a centre

of excellence with students and personnel who are comprehensively educated,

globally relevant and au fait on the latest trends in HIV/AIDS prevention.

2. It will provide a strong base and launch pad for meaningful community impact, for

instance, through the Youth-Friendly Centre’s outreaches to secondary schools and

pressure groups in the host community.

3. Activities of the Youth-Friendly Centre will spontaneously enhance the quality of

students especially in terms of ethical and socially responsible behaviour.

9. LINKAGES, MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

The Youth-Friendly Centre will develop affiliations with local and international
8
organizations such as the Family Health Development Initiative (FAHEDI), Society

for Family Health (SFH), National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) and United

OAU Distance Learning Youth-Friendly Centre: A Proposal | (234) 0803 678 3846.
States Agency for International Development (USAID) to facilitate the continuous

availability of human resources and educational materials for the centre’s activities.

The Youth-Friendly Centre will be managed by the Distance Learning Centre,

Obafemi Awolowo University. However, the day-to-day activities of the centre will be

directed by the Centre Administrator who will coordinate other members of staff – a

counsellor, a Cafe Assistant and a Desk Officer. The staff of the centre will thus be

made up of four persons among whom the proponent will serve as Centre

Administrator.

10. CONCLUSION

Successful efforts to combat HIV in Uganda, Thailand, and other countries suggest

that high-profile education programs to change behaviours remain key to long-term

success, although this approach requires more time and persistence by policy

makers. No institution is better suited for this than the university. In Nigeria,

HIV/AIDS is still associated with behaviours widely considered taboo, including

prostitution, drug use, and homosexuality. Consequently, many people are reluctant

to acknowledge the spread of the disease owing to strong social and cultural norms.

HIV-positive people often do not seek testing and treatment because they fear being

ostracized by their families, neighbours and friends and losing their jobs or access to

public services. Among other things, the Youth-Friendly Centre will go a long way in

addressing these issues thereby creating a paradigm shift in HIV/AIDS education

and prevention.

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I am positively convinced that a swift implementation of this proposal will not only

yield unprecedented success in the fight against HIV/AIDS but also enhance the

OAU Distance Learning Youth-Friendly Centre: A Proposal | (234) 0803 678 3846.
quality of students being groomed by our great university that prides herself as a

centre for learning and culture – and rightly so. I will gladly make myself available for

further discussion of the details of this proposal. I can be reached on 0803 678 3846.

11. REFERENCES

Prof. H.B Olaniyi

Department of Physics
Obafemi Awolowo University
08037233556
bolaniyi@oauife.edu.ng

Dr. (Mrs.) Aderounmu

Medical and Health Services


Obafemi Awolowo University
08034069909

Dr. A.A Adebayo

Department of Economics
Obafemi Awolowo University
08073930486

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OAU Distance Learning Youth-Friendly Centre: A Proposal | (234) 0803 678 3846.

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