In a continued effort to expand access to rights-based sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for young people, representatives of the Oyo State Ministry of Health and HACEY staff members of the SRHR Impact Plus project have met in Ibadan to deliberate on strategies for advancing youth-centered health programming in the state.
The meeting, held under the SRHR Impact Plus project, an initiative implemented across five southwestern states, focused on strengthening partnerships with government institutions to improve access to comprehensive SRHR information and services for young people, especially through capacity building for community-based organizations and youth champions.
In her opening remarks, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, emphasized the ministry’s openness to collaboration with non-governmental partners on initiatives that align with the state’s adolescent health goals.
“We recognize the growing need to address youth sexual and reproductive health beyond service provision.
‘’Mental health, substance use, and gender-based violence are all interconnected issues. We welcome this partnership and the opportunity to scale youth-friendly health interventions,” she stated.
The meeting featured key insights from alliance members and HACEY’s technical team on the importance of mapping youth-friendly health centers, strengthening referral pathways, and training health workers on non-judgmental counseling, confidentiality, and inclusivity.
Conversations also spotlighted the need for age-appropriate, culturally relevant SRHR education and mechanisms to ensure effective follow-up for service users.
Ola Moses Morakinyo, of the Life Impact River Foundation and member of the SRHR Alliance, stressed the role of youth-led organizations in bridging community-level gaps in access.
“Young people must be at the center of these conversations, not just as beneficiaries but as advocates and implementers. This project equips us to lead change from the grassroots,” he said.
The delegation from the Oyo State Ministry of Health included Dr. Kehinde Ayinde, Permanent Secretary; Dr. Akintunde Babatunde, Director of Public Health; Mr. James Folasayi, the State Gender Focal Person, among others.
Together, they acknowledged the relevance of the initiative and affirmed the state’s readiness to collaborate on future engagements that promote youth health.
Mr. Isaiah Adedayo, MERL Lead at HACEY, reiterated the organization’s commitment to data-driven advocacy.
“We are leveraging evidence to drive policy and program design, ensuring that youth health services are responsive, accessible, and impactful,” he noted.
The SRHR Impact Plus Alliance includes organizations such as Youth Advocate Network, represented by Ms. Precious, and AFAY Health, represented by Mrs. Barakat Aniyikaye. Interns from HACEY’s Research and Programs teams, Ms. Kofoworola Fatogun, Ms. Shola Balogun, and Ms. Oluwabukunmi Ojo, also participated in the session.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to building stronger referral networks, integrating services across sectors, and upholding standards when approaching health authorities.
The Ministry and Alliance members agreed on the need for sustained dialogue and coordinated action to ensure that youth in Oyo State and beyond have equitable access to SRHR services and broader health support systems.
