YOUTH PROSTITUTION IN A DECLINING OIL ECONOMY: THE ROLE OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING

Abstract

Prostitution is the practice of selling sex and sexual activities for money. The influx of expatriates and oil workers in the 80s due to oil exploration and exploitation in Port Harcourt, the oil city of Nigeria accelerated the rate of prostitution in the region. Interestingly, a good number of female prostitutes at that time made sufficient money in the sexual enterprise. One would have thought that due to the declining oil economy in this region and Nigeria in general the rate of prostitution would have drastically reduced but the reverse is the case. Many youths and university students enter into prostitution and to some of them as a "survival strategy". The trend of prostitution during and after the oil boom era in the region was discussed. Different types of prostitutions that are directly and indirectly practiced, precursors that contribute to entry into prostitution and consequences of prostitutions on the youths and the society at large were further examined. The counselling implications advocate for the role of guidance and counselling as an intervention tool to combat these social and behavioural deviations. The intervention will help the youths, the university students and the nation to acquire knowledge on how to make a rethink in order to make a positive change and seek appropriate ways to survive for sustainable and optimal development in a life after oil period.