Key stakeholders have called for the implementation of innovative and sustainable interventions to address the vulnerabilities of adolescents and young Nigerians.
The stakeholders who made this call on Thursday in Abuja at the 4th scientific roundtable series with the theme: ‘The missing link: Reducing vulnerabilities of adolescents and young persons through sustainable interventions’ hinted that Nigeria has policies but lack proper implementation.
Speaking at the series, organized by the Centre for Integrated Health Programmes (CIHP), the Chief Executive Officer of CIHP, Dr. Bolanle Oyeledun, reinstated the need for young people who have multiple intersecting vulnerabilities to be properly programmed for in an inclusive manner that addresses their unique challenges.
Dr Bola said ‘we are focusing on addressing the vulnerabilities of young people across Nigeria as young people constitute the largest number in our population, but interventions that are geared towards them are either not existing, not strategic enough or fails to take into consideration, the different heterogeneities of young people’’.
She pointed out that programming for young people shouldn’t be in a blanket manner as young people have multiple vulnerabilities which should be properly identified and addressed as this is the only way change can be achieved. Adding that a nation cannot be built without an investment in young people.
The CEO of CIHP while speaking on the need to leverage on technology hinted that CIHP has established a Business incubation hub that empowers young people to be technology savvy, financially literate, and empowered with the right skills to thrive in the technology driven world, adding that there is also the STEM Hub that seeks to empower girls with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematic as well as the Cool girls App where young girls have access to answers on various questions and concerns.
She further added that a collaborative effort is required in addressing the vulnerabilities of young people, thereby urging parents, care givers, and relatives to become more intentional in empowering young persons to stand effectively in the society.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, at the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Chukwugozie Ujam, stressed the need for all stakeholders to work towards providing improved access to information and provision of safe spaces for young people.
He further called for the empowerment of young people thereby urging all stakeholders to collaborate towards enlightenment of this population on their rights and how to seek redress as well as best measures of addressing challenges of mental health, infections, especially HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections and other vulnerabilities.
Similarly, the HIV/AIDS focal person at the World Health Organisation, Dr Oluwafunke Ilesanmi-Odunlade during the panel session said there is a need to implement policies designed to meet the needs of adolescents and young people so they can achieve their goals.
“Translating policies to actions is not a half-baked goal. It has to be from within, from the people who need it, from the people who need the experiences, and after we put out the action, we should monitor the change.
Also, the Senior Technical Officer, Paediatric ART Lead at the APIN Public Health Initiatives, Dr. Olujuwon Ibiloye, stressed the need for a systematic approach to address the vulnerabilities of adolescents and young people in the country.
He said, “There are different factors that are influencing the health outcomes among adolescent girls and young women, and at the same time, when you look at technology as a tool to improve health outcomes among young people, you can also look at it from two angles, getting them involved in STEM education and STEM employment. You can also look at it from the programmatic angle, interventions, using technology, and interventions to improve health outcomes.
In addition, the director of law enforcement directorate, office of the National Security Adviser AIG Idowu Owohunwa, called for the establishment of gender-based unit in all police stations in the country and the training of the Nigerian Police Force for improved response to gender based violence cases in the country adding that the model is currently in place in Lagos state.
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