I am an African youth and like many young people, I get uncomfortable each time I hear the common saying that the future belongs to young people or that they are the leaders of tomorrow. My exasperation is not unconnected with the ways young people are sparsely represented at the decision-making table, not unrelated with…
Lest we forget, Africa’s investment in young people has been the lowest in the world. According to a 2019 WHO report, the average global probability of a 10-year-old dying before the age of 24 was six times higher in sub-Saharan Africa than in northern America and Europe, of which the leading causes of these deaths are injuries from road accidents, violence, self-harm and maternal conditions.
SAYPHIN is the national association of professionals working in the area of adolescents’ and young peoples’ health in Nigeria, including health professionals, social workers, counseling and educational professionals. Standing in between all of these is government at all levels, who should change the status quo with youth-friendly policies thereby creating a society where the rights especially, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights , of these young people and adolescents are respected and protected. It is instructive that the Northern Governors’ Wives Forum is taking the issue of GBV very seriously.