By Omoyeni Ojeifo
As Nigeria marks the 2026 International Adolescent Health Week, the Federal Government is moving to give adolescents a stronger voice in health policy, programme design and service delivery.
PerSecondNews correspondent reports that the engagement took place in Abuja on Monday, October 12, bringing government officials, development partners and students together to discuss adolescent health and participation.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by Dr Abisola Adegoke, Director of Hospital Services, emphasised adolescents’ role in shaping decisions affecting their health.
“Adolescents must not be treated merely as recipients of health interventions, but must be recognised as active partners whose views, experiences and priorities help shape the policies, programmes and services that affect them,” he said.
The ministry described the theme, “Nothing About Us Without Us: Power, Voice and Health Equity for All Adolescents,” as a call for meaningful adolescent participation in health decisions.
“Nothing about us is more than a slogan. It is a call for meaningful adolescent participation and engagement in policy development, programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation,”he said.
The minister disclosed that more than 1,300 health workers had received training over the past three years through collaboration with the European Union and other partners.
He also highlighted the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus vaccination in 2023, which has reached more than five million adolescent girls to protect them against cervical cancer.
“The Ministry is committed to expanding this effort to involve more primary and secondary health facilities, so that our adolescents can receive respectful, confidential, non-judgmental and quality care.”
Pate emphasised the need to reach adolescents outside school, in rural and hard-to-reach communities, and those living with disabilities or facing other vulnerabilities.
In his remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, represented by Mrs Ogbuke Njideka Dorothy, Deputy Director, Education Support Services, linked adolescent health to educational outcomes.
“At the Federal Ministry of Education, we recognise that education and health are inseparable. A healthy learner is better positioned to learn, achieve and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
The minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to creating school environments where adolescents can access reliable health information and develop essential life skills.
“We remain committed to promoting safe, inclusive and health-promoting schools where adolescents have access to accurate health information, essential life skills and supportive relationships,”he added.
Also speaking, representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, emphasised that adolescent health programmes must include young people often excluded from decision-making, particularly girls and those in underserved communities.
“Adolescents, especially girls, those with disabilities, and those out of school or in hard-to-reach communities, should help shape the programmes, policies and services designed for them.”
On her part, Director of Programs, SWAG initiative, Maureen Torkula urged stakeholders to strengthen young people’s participation in developing and monitoring policies affecting their health.
“Let us advance the meaningful participation of young people in designing, implementing and monitoring the policies that affect them,”she said.
Torkula also called for stronger coordination and investment in adolescent health.
“We must strengthen coordination and investment in adolescent health to ensure that young people’s needs, voices and priorities are reflected in the services designed for them,”she emphasized.
Speaking on behalf of adolescents, Emmanuella Adejo of Government Day Secondary School, Wuse II, highlighted the emotional pressures young people face and the importance of self-worth.
“Your value is not determined by how well you fit in, how many people approve of you, or whether you look or behave like everyone else. Being different does not make you less valuable.”
Adejo also highlighted the need for safe spaces, trained school counsellors, anti-bullying rules and awareness programmes that encourage adolescents to seek help when necessary.
PerSecondNews correspondent also reports that the event also featured an award presentation and cultural performances by secondary school students, while stakeholders called for joint action to strengthen adolescent participation and improve access to inclusive, quality health services.
Author
Leave a comment