Development partners in the health and education sectors have called for increased investment in adolescent health and welfare, stressing the need to protect young people from child marriage, gender based violence, and other challenges affecting their development.
The call was made during activities marking the 2026 International Adolescent Health Week, where government officials, development partners, and students highlighted the need to address the challenges confronting adolescents.
This years theme, nothing about us, without us power, voice, and health equity for all adolescents, goes beyond giving young people a platform to express their concerns.
For the participants It raises a fundamental question about whether their voices are actually influencing the decisions that affect their health and well-being.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, and the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, both agreed that young people must be actively involved in shaping the policies and programmes designed for their benefit.
For the United Nations Population Fund and other development partners, improving adolescent health also requires confronting social challenges that continue to threaten the safety, dignity, and future of young people.
They say efforts must go beyond awareness campaigns to include practical measures against child marriage and gender based violence, which can disrupt education, undermine health, and limit opportunities for adolescents.
Representing students, Adejo Emmanuella of Government Secondary School, Wuse II, called for more school counsellors to help adolescents navigate the pressures and challenges associated with growing up.
As Nigeria marks the 2026 International Adolescent Health Week, these keyplayers maintain that adolescents must not only be beneficiaries of policies but active participants in decisions affecting their health, safety, and future.
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(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
