Plan International Seeks Policy Implementation To Address Needs Of Adolescents

Plan International wants stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of policies that will enhance the effective inclusion of the needs of adolescents in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs for enhanced national development.

The Advocacy and Youth Programme Officer of the organization, Jonathan Abakpa made the call in Abuja at a forum aimed at reviewing reports and recommendations for improving the well-being of adolescents in Nigeria.

According to Abakpa, the SDGs adopted by the United Nations provide a comprehensive framework to address the world’s most pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges which include basic education, healthcare delivery services, and insecurity among others.

Abakpa who stressed that Nigeria, as a signatory to the SDGs, should prioritize investing in the well-being of adolescents to achieve sustainable development as a country with a large youth population and facing challenges in promoting their well-being, explained further that, the high rate of unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, and social exclusion posed barriers to the holistic development of Nigerian adolescents.

In his words ” This forum brought together young people and the thought behind it is to create a safe space for them to evaluate the sustainable development goals in terms of implementation in Nigeria. See the gaps and then as well as provide recommendations particularly as we are preparing for the global forum for adolescents, which is in October. We anticipate that Nigerian adolescents and young people would have their voices amplified at that global forum. And beyond that global forum, we are looking at how this will be replicated on other global stages”.

Similarly, Idoko Philip who spoke on behalf of other Civil Society Organisations stressed that Education remains key to addressing Youth reactiveness in the country, hence investment in adolescents delivers “multiple dividends” such as improving health and contributing to the development of future generations.

Florence Adewale, Edited By Grace Namiji