In a concerted effort to enhance adolescent health and youth empowerment, the Executive Chairman of Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Wasiu Adesina, has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with the TeensMata Youth Hub.
This partnership aims to improve access to essential health services and provide life-skills training for adolescents and youths in Ikorodu through the USAID Youth-Powered Ecosystem Programme.
The announcement followed a meeting on Tuesday the 21st of May 2024, between Hon. Adesina and representatives from TeensMata Youth Hub.
The initiative targets the growing urban youth population in Ikorodu, with a special focus on marginalized adolescents who are out of school, underprivileged, and facing high rates of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies.
A representative from TeensMata Youth Hub explained, “The initiative aims to equip youths with the skills, social capital, and resources needed to realize their full potential.
Additionally, it seeks to improve adolescent health by increasing access to voluntary family planning services and placing these services within a broader, more holistic context of youth empowerment.
This includes fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges that adolescents face.”
Hon. Adesina praised TeensMata for selecting Ikorodu Local Government for this significant initiative and assured full support from his administration to ensure the project’s successful implementation.
“I am aware that this programme targets two states within the country, Kano and Lagos. I appreciate your team for bringing this impactful initiative to this local government, and I assure you of our unflagging support throughout the period of this project,” said Hon. Adesina.
He also encouraged the residents of Ikorodu to engage actively with the initiative, emphasizing its potential benefits to the community.
“This initiative promises to impact our society through youth counselling and referrals to multi-sectoral services, and by providing youth-friendly health providers to address issues such as gender-based violence, substance abuse, and mental health programs in selected urban areas,” he added.
The partnership between Hon. Adesina’s administration and TeensMata Youth Hub marks a promising step towards addressing critical health and social issues among adolescents in Ikorodu, empowering them to lead healthier and more productive lives.
INN-HOUSE☆ 