By Nduka Ozor, Coordinator MAYF
February 21, 2006
LAGOS NIGERIA: The Catch Them Young (CTY) program was launched February 15, 2006, by the traditional ruler of the Mgbala Agwa Autonomous community, Eze Charles A Ukwu. This public event was held a day after Lover’s Day (Valentines Day) to officially launch the program and draw special attention to it within the Mgbala Agwa community.
Declaring the program open, Eze Charles A Ukwu commended the Mgbala Agwa Youth Forum (MAYF) for its pro-activeness in addressing the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS in the community. He praised youths for helping reshape the battered social and cultural activities of the Mgbala Agwa community, particularly their commitment to community health issues.
HIV, he said, has decimated the uninformed rural community of Mgbala Agwa, reversing community progress. Eze Charles A Ukwu told attendees at the event that he was very proud of the awareness on HIV and other health related issues that community youths have helped create, assuring them of his continued and unreserved support of their efforts.
Eze Charles A Ukwu thanked the Swedish organization Internationellt KulturUtbyte (IKU) for believing in and supporting the cause of Mgbala Agwa youths, citing MAYF partnership with IKU as a model for other other international agencies and donor organisations. Additionally, he gave special thanks to Mr. Nduka Ozor, MAYF coordinator, for his resiliance and persistence in overcoming significant financial challenges to the MAYF program. In response, Mr. Ozor thanked Eze Charles A Ukwu for his kind and generous praise, noting that couldn’t have done it alone without the support of his online volunteers.
Mr. Ozor also shared with attendees of the event some personal recollections, noting that prior to venturing into the MAYF program he had been awed by the challenges and constraints he would have to face. He further called upon members of the Mgbala Agwa community to allow female children to be actively involved in the program.
At the conclusion of official events, attendees were shown a play by Mgbala Agwa youths on the dangers of HIV/AIDS that was well-received by the community.
