The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has said that Nigeria’s future depends significantly on the health, well-being, and inclusion of its adolescent population, especially girls, who remain disproportionately affected by systemic exclusion and harmful gender norms.

Speaking at the 2025 Gender and Inclusion Summit/National Dialogue on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, the Minister described adolescents as the “heartbeat of the nation’s future” and called for urgent, multisectoral action to dismantle the barriers they face.

Dr. Salako warned that issues such as child marriage, gender-based violence, substance abuse, and poor access to sexual and reproductive health services are not merely health concerns but reflections of entrenched social inequalities.

“These challenges are deeply rooted in harmful gender norms and structural discrimination. Addressing them requires bold action, deliberate policy reform, and genuine collaboration across sectors,” he said.

The event also marked the launch of the Nigeria Survey on Gender Norms, Attitudes, Health, and Wellbeing, described by the Minister as “a landmark initiative” supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The survey targets adolescents aged 10–14 and explores issues such as early marriage, GBV, HPV vaccination, and women’s economic empowerment.

Dr. Salako used the platform to highlight efforts by the Federal Government under the current administration to prioritise adolescent health. He cited the annual observance of the International Adolescent Health Week, scheduled for early October 2025, and the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign, which has immunised over 14 million girls, accounting for 96 per cent of the target population.

He also emphasised the role of the Adolescent and School Health Branch within the Ministry’s Gender, Adolescent, School Health and Elderly Care Division, and called on subnational governments to establish and fund dedicated budget lines for adolescent health.

“These initiatives are not end points but stepping stones,” he noted. “We must scale up our interventions, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and put adolescents at the centre of policy planning.”

In a separate high-level session at the summit, First Lady of Kwara State and Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF), Ambassador Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, reaffirmed the commitment of state governments to driving gender-inclusive development through community-based interventions.

The First Lady noted that despite decades of advocacy, gender inequity remains a significant barrier to Nigeria’s economic and social progress. Citing data showing that only 27.3 per cent of parliamentary seats in Sub-Saharan Africa are held by women, and that 95 per cent of CEOs in top African firms are male, she called for systemic norm changes across sectors.

“Economic empowerment is not just about jobs or income. It also affects health, nutrition, access to education, and equitable representation. We must create an enabling environment for all, especially women and girls, to thrive,” she said.

She spotlighted legislative milestones in Kwara State, including the signing of the 35% Gender Inclusion Law and the approval of a six-month maternity leave policy for working mothers. She added that women now make up 50 per cent of the state’s cabinet, and that First Ladies across the country continue to implement grassroots programs in health, education, and gender-based violence prevention.

“The Forum is committed to sustained advocacy, strategic partnerships, and practical interventions that uplift vulnerable populations. We are ensuring that empowerment reaches the last mile,” she said.