Empowering the Next Generation: A Call to Action
In the face of growing educational and social challenges, stakeholders have come together to urge parents, the government, and society to take collective responsibility in empowering the next generation. The call to action was echoed at the 4th Annual Scientific Roundtable Series of the Centre for Integrated Health Programme (CIHP), where experts gathered to discuss the theme “The missing link: Reducing vulnerabilities of adolescents and young persons through sustainable interventions.”
Dr. Bolanle Oyeledun, Chief Executive Officer of CIHP, warned that a growing epidemic exists where the needs of young people are not being discussed. “Before we come in as government or stakeholders, we are first parents and relatives, so we all have the collective responsibility to look at how to empower young people to stand on their own in society,” she emphasized. According to Oyeledun, young people need life skills to help them deal with mental health issues, become financially literate, and learn to cope with life’s challenges.
The stakeholders also emphasized the importance of providing safe spaces for young adolescents where their complaints can be heard and acted upon. Dr. Chukwugozie Ujam, Deputy Director of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), highlighted the need for communities to be empowered to know where to report their issues. He stressed that the government’s role is to create a supportive environment where stakeholders can effectively do their work, providing accurate and relevant information to young people and creating safe spaces for them to express themselves and receive support.
Dr. Olujuwon Ibiloye, Senior Technical Officer at APIN Public Health Initiatives, advised that issues affecting young people must be identified first and all stakeholders co-opted into seeking solutions. He emphasized the need for a systematic approach to addressing the vulnerabilities of adolescents and young people in the country.
The overall message from the stakeholders is a call to action for the government, parents, and society to work together to empower the next generation. As Dr. Oyeledun concluded, “The overall message is a call to action for the government, parents and society to work together to empower the next generation, particularly in the face of educational and social challenges.”
