Valentine’s Day: Keep your virginity until marriage, Pastor urges youths

Ahead of February 14, St. Valentine’s Day, a Cleric, Mr Chidi Udo, has called on teenagers to embrace abstinence, uphold moral values, avoid sexual immorality, and adopt disciplined lifestyles.

Udo, who is the Teens Pastor of Assemblies of God Church (AGC), House of Transformation (HOT), Surulere, made the call at the 2026 Chastity Edition organised ahead of the annual St. Valentine’s Day Celebration.

Speaking on the topic, “Chastity, My Life of Freedom”, the cleric noted that adopting a disciplined lifestyle ensured personal growth, dignity, healthy choices, and lifelong faithfulness.

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The Chastity Programme of the AGC is an annual event that promotes purity and encourages teens and youths to uphold moral values.

The event is usually held ahead of the Feb. 14 St. Valentine’s Day Celebration, to counter perceived immoral behaviours.

The 2026 edition had the theme, “Where The Spirit of God is, There is Freedom”, and had hundreds of teens from various district branches of AGC, youths from other denominations, and communities in attendance.

Udo, who convened the programme, said the call for keeping their virginity until marriage became necessary because Valentine’s Day often increased pressure on teenagers and led some to lose their virginity in the name of ‘Love’.

“This forum creates an enabling environment whereby the teens affirm their commitment by stamping their palms on the programme banner and declaring, ‘I stand for chastity’, while the church continues praying, supporting, and encouraging them.

“We are promoting chastity because early sexual activity exposes youths to immorality, diseases, and unwanted pregnancies.

“However, keeping one’s virginity until marriage increases personal value and promotes faithfulness within marriage,” the teen’s pastor said.

He said that chastity aligned with cultural and moral values, and urged schools, churches, and families to collaborate in the effort to groom decent youths beyond Valentine’s Day.

Udo stressed that all stakeholders must keep talking about sexual purity consistently.

Addressing the teens, the Guest Speaker, Mr Victor Alukoju, urged the teens to become sexual purity ambassadors, speaking boldly in schools and communities.

Alukoju said that these ambassadors must honor God through purity, holiness, and righteousness, influencing others positively by living a life aligned with God’s values.

He explained that Valentine’s Day was good as God is love, adding that true love reflected God’s holiness.

Alukoju added, “God is not sexually immoral, so if you must celebrate Valentine’s Day, celebrate God, not sin”.

He emphasised that sexual purity strengthened character, relationships, and faith, adding that true love honoured God and was pure, holy, and righteous.

“Sexual purity protects your heart, strengthens your relationship with God, and inspires others to follow God’s design with integrity and faithfulness.” Alukoju added.