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James is a member of the Nigeria Youth Advocates Group through the International Youth Speak Out Project.  I am James. I am 24-years old and reside in Abuja, Nigeria. I am a student studying Mechanical Engineering in Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa. I have a vision and aspiration to see young people around us, in our community, and beyond, living in good health—this is why I joined the Movement Against the Spread of HIV/AIDS (MASA), a youth friendly center for young people to discuss and advocate on youth living positively in their society/ community.
The association, MASA, has really helped me as an activist to advise other youth who feel that HIV and AIDS is a death sentence. However, I explain to them that with this virus, you can still live a better life and even live longer than those who are not living with the virus. Youth in our society now believe that stigmatization is not the best way to overcome the virus but that drawing those living with the virus closer to us is. As a peer educator on issues of HIV/AIDS, I and my fellow peer educators have organized programs that will bring the youths together to empower them to join us at the forefront on issues of HIV/AIDS related issues; for example, we organized a “dance out” competition in which many youths were involved.
I see a situation where my fellow youth are living healthy with or without the HIV virus and the issue of stigmatization is erased from our minds. I am an inspirational speaker, hardworking, focused, honest, reliable and determined to fight against HIV/AIDS and reduce stigmatization in our society.
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