What's up with young people in northern Nigeria?
28 April 2008
Related pages:
Nigeria country profile
| Millennium
Development Goal 6: HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria
 "Ya Take Ne?",
the Hausa expression for "What’s up?", has become a
widespread slogan among the Hausa youth of northern Nigeria. Shout it out in
any northern city and you are likely to get the answer shouted back at you by a
group of young radio listeners: "Hakan Take!" - "That’s the way it
is!".
Ya Take Ne? is the name of a DFID-funded radio show about HIV/AIDS, broadcast by
more than 20 stations across northern Nigeria. Putting HIV/AIDS in the
context of classmates, family and friends, the show reflects the reality of being young in a
largely conservative, Muslim society.
Listeners first
Presented by young people, Ya Take Ne? talks to its audience
in a language they understand. Personal testimonies, heated debate, vox pops,
music and celebrity chat add up to an exciting mix for each weekly edition.
The show also asks listeners to email, text or call in
with questions and issues, and then calls them back to take up the discussion
and provide advice. These discussions are recorded and go out on air a few days
later.
Listeners have responded enthusiastically to this interactive
approach. Audience figures are high, and in Kano State alone more than 70% of
young people listen to Ya Take Ne? regularly.
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Real impacts
 Eighteen months after it hit the airwaves, a survey found
that listeners to the show were adopting healthier behaviour at a faster rate
than those who didn't tune in. As well as being more likely to know about HIV
testing centres and show willingness to get tested, they were less likely to be
sexually active.
One fan talked about the big effect that the show can have on
people's attitudes:
"Those who don't know about the programme - or who don't
listen - just do things without taking precautions. My friend stopped womanising
as a result of the programme - before, he just used to womanise without thinking,
but when he started listening, he changed."
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A flood of texts
 Tackling HIV in northern Nigeria is complicated by the fact
that in conservative societies, young people often find it difficult to get
answers to their questions on body matters, sexual issues and relationships. The
flood of text messages received every week by the Ya Take Ne? production team
shows how a radio programme can become the trusted friend of many who have no
other authoritative source of information:
"Hi,u are really doing a great job over there. i want to
run an HIV test but my broda said its ñt right but i must do it 2 be on a safe
side. Blessing, Zaria."
"Hi! I want 2 use this opportunity 2 say thank u, for making me 2 know dat both
Boys & Girls has equal feelings when it comes SEX. SAMUEL 4rm Ibadan."
"From now, if i have sum1 who is positive i wont discriminate him we wil eat
2gether, walk 2gether and i wil make sure he fils bein positive is not d end of
d world."
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Role models
 Although Ya Take Ne? addresses young people first and
foremost, it has won respect and support from parents. This is crucial if it is
to have a wide impact. As one parent, a member of a local community group, said:
"Because the presenters are young, I want my children to
listen to them, even to have them as role models. Truly my children are doing
what they (the presenters) are saying."
Reducing HIV infection is an important priority in Nigeria.
Although the prevalence rate (4.4%) is lower than in many African countries,
Nigeria’s large population means the number of people affected is
huge. Approximately 2.9 million people are living
with HIV in the country - 9% of the world’s total.
By getting young people to
think about HIV and AIDS, and relate them to their own lives, Ya Take Ne? is striking
at the heart of the problem: changing
the attitudes and behaviour that allow the epidemic to thrive.
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Facts and stats
-
Ya Take Ne? is part of STOP HIV, a mass media
campaign implemented by the
 BBC World Service Trust. DFID is providing
£5.6 million between 2005 and 2008 to the campaign.
-
The campaign is run in partnership with the
Society for Family Health, a non-governmental organisation which engages
Nigerian communities in discussions on HIV/AIDS and family planning
issues.
-
Over 18 months, the campaign saw knowledge of HIV
testing centres go up from 41% to 52%, willingness to get tested rise
from 40% to 54% and the number of youths getting tested double from 10%
to 20%. Acceptance of HIV-positive classmates also increased from 61% to
67% and consistent condom use rose from 35% to 44%.
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Awareness of the campaign among 15- to 24-year-olds
stands at 93%.
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As well as supporting efforts to prevent the spread of HIV through the
media, DFID also provides funding in Nigeria for the social marketing of
condoms, accounting for 75% of all condoms in the country. In 2006, 160 million condoms
were distributed, over twice the 2000 figure.
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