Lara Adejoro The Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders, said that since late August and early September,...
The Society for Family Health has concluded the first phase of its Adolescent 360 Health and Economic Empowerment Project, A360-HEEP, equipping over 160 adolescent girls with vital health education and practical economic skills to boost self-reliance and confidence.
Founded in 1985, the Society for Family Health is one of Nigeria's largest non-governmental organisations working in public health and development.
According to a statement released by the SFH on its official X account on Thursday, the initiative, which targets young girls in underserved communities, combined mental health awareness with vocational training such as small chops preparation, yoghurt making, skincare production, and soap making.
It explained that the programme seeks to bridge the gap between knowledge and opportunity, enabling participants to safeguard their well-being while also generating income.
"Adolescence is a defining stage in life, and for many young girls, access to the right knowledge, confidence, and skills can mean the difference between missed opportunities and a brighter future.
"In Emuoha LGA, participants were taught how to make small chops; in ONELGA LGA, they learned fruit yoghurt and parfait preparation; in Ahaoda West LGA, the training focused on skincare products, including oil perfumes and pomade; while in Ahaoda East LGA, the girls acquired skills in liquid soap production", the SFH statement partly read.
The statement quoted one of the participants, Grace, a 17-year-old from Rumuji, who shared her excitement, stating, "Today I learned how to care for my mind and how to make small chops that I can even sell. It makes me feel hopeful."
The organisers noted that the programme was not just about completing a round of training, but about laying a foundation for lasting impact on the girls' lives.
"This milestone represented more than the end of a training cycle; it marked the beginning of greater confidence, new skills, and fresh possibilities for the participants.
"As the first cohort draws to a close, A360 HEEP celebrates the journeys of these young girls and looks forward to reaching even more adolescents in the coming cohorts."
PUNCH Online reports that the A360-HEEP project builds on its wider Adolescent 360 initiative, which has been implemented in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, integrating reproductive health with economic empowerment to reduce vulnerability among adolescent girls.
Similarly, in 2023, SFH, under its A360 programme, empowered 853 girls aged 15-19 years in Atan, Etere, and Otun communities in Adodo Otun LGA, in Ogun State.
The training included sexual and reproductive health education and economic strengthening adaptations. The goal was to build the girls' agency and financial independence.
Also, in May 2023, under the Adolescent 360-TotalEnergies Health & Economic Empowerment Project, A-360 THEEP, SFH trained 35 girls from Ado-Odo/Ota LGA in Ogun State.