The Nigerian government has renewed its push to dismantle harmful gender norms and strengthen adolescent health systems, with a call for policies and investments that translate commitments into better outcomes for young people.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call at the 2026 Gender and Inclusion Summit and National Dialogue on Transforming Gender Norms for Adolescent Health and Wellbeing in Abuja.
Salako said harmful gender norms, rooted in unequal cultural expectations, could limit adolescents’ choices and heighten their vulnerability to violence, early pregnancy and poor health outcomes.
“Transforming gender norms therefore matters because it breaks down rigid rules that limit access to healthcare, safety, education and the ability to earn a decent living.”
He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was strengthening adolescent health through policy and partnerships, including the institutionalisation of Adolescent and School Health and the establishment of a dedicated budget line for adolescent health.
The minister said the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy 2025-2030 would expand access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, including family planning, STI/HIV prevention and counselling.
He also highlighted the national HPV vaccination campaign, which has reached more than 14 million adolescent girls aged nine to 14, alongside the Nigerian Survey on Gender Norms, Attitudes, Health and Wellbeing, designed to generate evidence for policy and programming.
Salako urged stakeholders to adopt gender-transformative approaches, strengthen partnerships, convert evidence into policies and budgets, and create accountability mechanisms that amplify youth voices in decision-making.
“Let this dialogue be more than a conversation. Let it be a catalyst for change.”
Supporting the implementation agenda, Deputy Director, Policy, Advocacy and Communications, Gates Foundation Nigeria Country Office, Ekenem Isichei, said innovation must be judged by its ability to deliver benefits to people at the last mile.
He said the last mile was not a location but the individual confronting gaps between policy, funding and functioning services.
“What we would like to see is making sure that number one, that when we allocate resources, we actually release those funds, and making sure those funds are spent efficiently at the last mile.”
Isichei stressed the need to prioritise primary healthcare facilities, noting that Nigeria lags globally on maternal mortality.
He called for grassroots ownership involving local government leaders, communities, youth leaders and women, while advocating primary healthcare facilities, commodities, staffing, communication, data continuity and referral systems.
“If I can’t get in this LGA, then I can refer to the next LGA, but there’s a metre of transportation that takes you from this point here to point B, and that’s part of the referral system.”
Isichei said strengthening Level Two facilities could bring services closer to communities, reduce delays and improve referrals.
He added that innovations must move beyond pilot projects into sustainable systems capable of government adoption, funding and measurable results.
The submissions at the dialogue placed responsibility on stakeholders: turn policy commitments into funded action, reinforce health systems and ensure innovations reach the adolescents and communities they are designed to serve.
