The Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative (YEDI) has called on young people to take the lead in the fight against HIV/AIDS and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), urging collective efforts to educate and empower adolescents to tackle these pressing issues.
This call to action was made by YEDI’s Executive Director, Tomisin Adeoye, during the “Skillz Holiday Camp,” a five-day event held at the Junior Secondary School in Dutse Sagwari, Bwari Area Council, Abuja.
Supported by Grassroot Soccer and the FIFA Foundation, the camp attracted over 100 adolescents in Abuja, while a similar program in Lagos benefited 150 participants.
The camp included education on sexual and reproductive health, health literacy, HIV, and malaria testing, along with various engaging activities.
Adeoye highlighted the importance of young people taking charge of their health and well-being, revealing that YEDI has reached over 450,000 beneficiaries since its inception.
The organization has been instrumental in addressing key issues that affect adolescents across Nigeria.
“The SKILLZ holiday camp is one of the strategies we employ to engage young people, especially during long vacations.
We utilize the SKILLZ curriculum to provide them with crucial information on sexual and reproductive health, financial literacy, puberty, and menstrual hygiene.
On the final day, we offer free HIV testing to participants with parental consent,” Adeoye explained.
She emphasized YEDI’s holistic approach, noting that by investing in adolescents, Nigeria can cultivate a healthier, more informed future generation.
She also stressed the importance of equipping youth with the knowledge and skills to make healthy decisions, steering clear of risky behaviors such as substance abuse, unprotected sex, and violent relationships.
Sarah David, a parent of one of the participants, expressed her gratitude to YEDI for empowering her children.
“This program has been incredibly beneficial to my children. When I listened to them talk about what they learned, I was so impressed. They discussed the proper ways to handle children, HIV prevention, and the influence of bad friends,” she said.
A participant, Emmanuella Agada, also shared her experience: “I gained so much knowledge from this program. Learning about sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV, was eye-opening.
“We were taught that abstinence is the best form of prevention.”
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