Make Her Smile Africa, in partnership with Azariah Foundation have convened a high-level policy dialogue and roundtable discussion as part of the ongoing implementation of the EmpowerHER Project in strengthening and scaling up Youth Wellness Hubs (YWHs) within existing healthcare facilities.
The event funded by the Gender Equality Fund (GEF) brought together key government officials, health facility managers, community stakeholders, and civil society actors from across Ibadan North, Ogbomoso North, and Iseyin Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The EmpowerHER initiative focuses on improving Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), as well as HIV, TB, and Malaria outcomes for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15–29 in Oyo state.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director of Make Her Smile Africa, Idundun Ibukun, emphasised the need for inclusive, youth-friendly healthcare services that respond to the lived realities of AGYW.
“Youth Wellness Hubs already exist in our system — we want to strengthen them by making them more accessible, gender-responsive, and accountable to the young people they are meant to serve.”
The roundtable featured presentations and open dialogue between health facility in-charges, family planning nurses, HIV/AIDS program officers, and local government representatives, including the Director of Health Services at the LGA level.
Participants examined systemic gaps in adolescent healthcare delivery, including poor staffing, stigma, lack of youth-friendly corners, and weak referral systems.
Key outcomes of the roundtable included: “Commitments from healthcare facility managers to designate and improve youth-friendly spaces within their centers; agreement to integrate AGYW health concerns into ongoing LGA health planning.”
Others are, “A pledge by participating stakeholders to support provider training on gender-transformative and adolescent-sensitive care; and Plans to establish a community feedback mechanism led by AGYW to improve service quality and access.”
Ibukunoluwa Idundun described the dialogue as “a crucial step in ensuring that policy meets practice, especially for vulnerable young women in underserved communities.”
Blueprint report that the roundtable will be followed by capacity-building sessions for healthcare providers and continuous advocacy engagements with the Ministry of Health and local government actors.
The EmpowerHER Project will continue to work across the selected LGAs until December 2026.