By Bunmi Yekini
A high-level gathering of public and private sector leaders convened in Lagos to explore innovative pathways for building an integrated ecosystem addressing adolescent health, education, and economic empowerment in Nigeria. Hosted by eHealth Africa and Brands on a Mission (BoaM), the exclusive cocktail event highlighted the urgent need for cross-sector collaboration to meet the needs of Nigeria’s youth, who make up 70% of the population.
Professor Myriam Sidibe, Founder and Chief Mission Officer at BoaM, opened the event with a call to action. “Adolescents are at the heart of Nigeria’s future,” she said. “Mobilising resources and innovative solutions to meet their needs today will lay the groundwork for a healthier, more empowered generation.”
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Discussions underscored the pressing challenges faced by Nigerian adolescents, particularly girls. Atef Fawaz, Executive Director of eHealth Africa, highlighted the stakes: “With 43% of girls married before 18 and many becoming mothers as teenagers, investing in their health is not just beneficial, it’s essential. Prioritising their health empowers them to make informed choices, ensuring a healthier future for themselves and the nation.”
Dr Karen Austrian, Director of the GIRL Center at Population Council, called for breaking silos within health, education, and youth sectors. “We’ve made strides with analog systems to reach the most marginalised. Now, we need to ask critical questions about scaling those successes digitally. Nigeria is well-positioned to lead this charge,” she said.
Speakers also championed the transformative potential of digital solutions. Dr Josephine Ojiambo, former UN Ambassador, described digital health as “the future of health service delivery, offering transformative potential to bridge gaps in adolescent healthcare.”
Njide Ndili, Country Director at PharmAccess, emphasized involving youth in co-designing digital health systems. “Few digital initiatives allow young people to shape their health futures meaningfully,” she noted. “The Digital Transformations for Health Lab is collaborating with youth globally to create digital-first health systems that respond to their needs, leveraging their digital upbringing.”
Innovators like Serah Malaba, Chief Impact Officer at Tiko, and Catherine Siebherhagen, Director of Implementation at Reach Digital Health, shared practical tools and platforms designed to engage adolescents, boost demand for healthcare services, and foster meaningful connections.