The United Nations Children Fund has lamented the prevailing increase in the number of adolescent children becoming mothers before the age of 18 years.
It, therefore, called for immediate and comprehensive intervention by the governments at all levels, noting that it had “committed $1bn investment in Nigeria over the next five years.”
The Chief of Health at UNICEF Nigeria, Eduardo Celades said this during the stakeholders forum on Adolescent and Youths Health Policies in Africa with the theme: “Fostering International Partnerships to Contribute to Adolescents’ and Youths’ Health in Nigeria.”
He said the crisis was beyond substance abuse, encompassing issues like insecurity, mental health, malnutrition, and climate change.
He said, “We are facing a massive crisis affecting our adolescent population. One in 10 girls in Nigeria is projected to become a mother before the age of 18, with a disproportionate impact in the North Central and North-West regions, where 50 per cent of young girls, particularly in states like Bauchi and Gombe, are expected to have a child by the age of 18.
“Half of adolescent girls are unlikely to complete secondary school, and a staggering 43 per cent are already married. Of these, a significant portion has partners older than them, impacting their decision-making autonomy.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Kayode Adebowale, stressed the necessity of directing attention and resources towards the health and well-being of adolescents.
He said the adolescent period was a critical period of life development during which each individual navigated the complex path from childhood to adulthood, adding that the health and approaches adopted shape the potential and contributions of each individual to national development.
The chairman, Board of UI-Research Foundation, Chevalier Uduimo, said the objective of the programme was to contribute to asset-based, impact-driven and sustainable national policy options supporting the health of adolescents and youths in Africa.
