The Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) has called for the integration of Comprehensive Life-skills and Health Education (CLHE) into school curricula across the country.
The recommendation was made on Wednesday by Mrs. Elizabeth Abimbola, PPFN South-West Regional Director, during the graduation ceremony of trained peer educators on CLHE in Ibadan.
Abimbola urged policymakers, educators, parents, and communities to prioritise CLHE in schools.
“Let us work together to create a Nigeria where adolescents thrive, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values to shape a brighter future.
As we strive for a healthier, more resilient generation, I leave you with a quote from Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: ‘The story of a people is not just a collection of individual stories; it is a tapestry woven from shared experiences.’
Let us weave a tapestry of hope, resilience, and empowerment for Nigerian adolescents,” she said.
According to Abimbola, the ceremony celebrated students who completed the CLHE modules under PPFN’s intervention in selected schools across Ibadan North LGA. The programme is designed to empower adolescents with accurate information on their bodies, relationships, and decision-making, while aiming to reduce gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, and misinformation about reproductive health.
She added that selected secondary school teachers across Oyo State were trained and supported to facilitate the students’ CLHE lessons. More than 700 students completed the modules during the first phase of the intervention from 2021 to 2024.
“In 2024, the project entered its operational research phase to compare two delivery models: regular classroom lessons (intervention group) and extracurricular sessions (control group). Twenty teachers were trained to facilitate CLHE lessons and mentor 20 students per school.
Key activities under the research phase included baseline and end-line surveys, teachers’ review meetings, supervisory visits, and focus group discussions with students, teachers, and school principals,” she said.
Abimbola emphasised that integrating life-skills and health education into school curricula would equip adolescents with decision-making and problem-solving abilities, foster healthy relationships and communication skills, and cultivate resilience and coping mechanisms.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Olusegun Olayiwola, commended the initiative, saying the training would have a positive impact on the graduates.
“Everyone awaits your contributions in improving the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents,” he told the graduates, while thanking PPFN and the participating schools for championing the project.
Mr. Adetayo Agboola, Vice Principal of Anglican Commercial Grammar School, Ibadan, highlighted the challenges facing adolescents, including teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, and sexual reproductive health issues, noting that most lacked the knowledge to make responsible decisions.
“Parents often deny their children access to vital information. CLHE can help young people by providing correct information and skills to adopt healthy behaviours if introduced into school curricula,” Agboola said.
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to the graduates.
