The Kwara State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners, has organized a sensitization walk to promote adolescent health and development.
The event, held in Ilorin, was part of activities marking the 2025 International Adolescents’ Week and aimed at raising awareness on the importance of caring for and supporting young people.
Speaking during the exercise, Dr. Oluwatosin Fakayode, Director of Public Health at the Kwara State Ministry of Health, said the week was designed to sensitize communities to the need to pay closer attention to adolescents’ welfare.
He urged parents to listen and provide guidance to their children, rather than adopting a prescriptive approach in dealing with them.
“Most parents don’t listen to their adolescent children. Gone are the days of being prescriptive. Children now ask questions about everything,” Fakayode said.
“Parents must learn to listen, guide, and understand their children’s realities to help them grow into productive members of society.”
He described adolescents as future leaders who must be nurtured and protected from societal vices such as drug abuse and sexual violence.
According to him, the government has implemented several adolescent-friendly health programmes and established facilities that provide access to healthcare without discrimination.
Also speaking, Dr. Hadiza Aliyu, UNICEF Health Specialist, described adolescents as “change makers and leaders of tomorrow.”
She emphasized the importance of the International Adolescents’ Week, urging parents and guardians to listen to young voices and help remove barriers hindering their growth.
Aliyu reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to promoting adolescent health and creating safe spaces where young people can express themselves and seek help.
Similarly, Mr. Buhari Oladimeji, Adolescents’ Desk Officer at the Kwara Ministry of Health, restated the government’s dedication to addressing issues affecting young people, including menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, and mental well-being.
He noted that the state had established adolescent-friendly centres to provide safe and non-judgmental access to healthcare services.
Oladimeji added that the government, in partnership with development organizations, is implementing programmes targeting drug abuse prevention, mental health support, and physical wellness.
He disclosed that the state had also commenced the distribution of reusable menstrual pads to female students in secondary schools, describing the initiative as a cost-effective and hygienic solution, especially given current economic challenges.
