TRANSFORMING EDUCATION: ADVANCING HUMAN SEXUALITY EDUCATION IN NIGERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Abstract

Human sexuality, despite being a subject of significant attention since the Enlightenment era, remains largely misrepresented throughout history. Archaeological findings suggest that sexuality was fluid in pre-agricultural societies, with restrictions emerging alongside the advent of farming. Over time, human sexuality and sexual orientation evolved into tools of social control. Classical demographers of the 18th century, such as Malthusians and neo-Malthusians, recognized the influential role of human sexuality in explaining population dynamics and development. However, their focus on fertility, mortality, migration, and marriage led to the neglect of other essential aspects of human sexuality. This paper seeks to address the historical oversight of these vital dimensions of human sexuality amidst the polarized pro-natal and anti-natal divides that characterized much of the discourse on population and development.