To place adolescent and young adults’ issues back on the front burner, not-for-profit organisation, the Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF), has promised to scale up efforts to re-educate and create better opportunities for young people in Nigeria.
According to the United Children Education Fund (UNICEF), the number of adolescent girls who are undernourished soared from 5.6 million in 2018 to 7.3 million in 2021 in Nigeria, and has significantly worsened with the poor state of the country’s economy.
Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of 32 percent of children under five. An estimated two million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), but only two out of every 10 children affected is currently reached with treatment. Seven percent of women of childbearing age also suffer from acute malnutrition.
In a bid to address these challenges holistically, YEF, which has been making a significant difference in the lives of young people for almost three decades, recently threw open the doors to its new Lagos office that will exclusively cater to young Nigerians.
The opening event, which took place recently, was marked by a public lecture on, “Adolescent Nutrition: Urgent Needs, Key Benefits, and the Way Forward,” and was delivered by Professor of Public Health Nutrition at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU), Professor Motunrayo Olumakaiye. She spoke on the importance of young adults’ nutritional needs, especially those who were deprived of the right nutrition as babies. She said it was important to prioritise adolescent nutrition because it is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future. She lamented that little attention was paid to adolescent nutrition, which was crucial in shaping a healthy and thriving future for young people.
“Adolescents demand meticulous attention to nutrition. It is not just a phase where the right nutrients play a pivotal role in shaping a healthy and thriving future. The statistics are not just numbers; they represent the dreams and potentials of our youths. Behind every statistic is a young mind grappling with the impact of inadequate nutrition. For Nigeria to meet the global nutrition targets and SDGs, adolescent nutrition must not be handled lightly,” she said.
Pointing out that the economic situation of the country is making it harder for many young people and adults to get the right nutrition intake needed, she advised that frivolities and junk eating of all kinds must be reduced or eliminated in favour of healthy eating and food items.
Speaking, Executive Director, YEF, Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, explained that the launch of the new office was testament to their passion, commitment and resilience in empowering and inspiring younger generations. Revealing that the vision was borne almost 30 years ago with a group of researchers, tasked to work on the reproductive health of young adolescents, she decided to carry on when the programme was completed after three years. Founding YEF alongside her sister, she added that their core values of integrity, excellence, consistency and passion has kept them going over the years.
The event was graced by dignitaries such as the National President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Professor Wasiu Afolabi, who praised the founders’ hard work and perseverance, adding that they have touched millions of lives in the last three decades in different areas. Also present was the Lagos State Taekwondo Chairman, Master Jimmy Ogunnowo. The new office, located in Akerele, Surulere, was officially opened by renowned Nigerian and Yoruba historian, Professor Bolanle Awe, represented by her daughter, Tinuade Awe.
Commending YEF’s mission and vision, Afolabi noted that the organisation had consistently stayed true to its goals of impacting lives, especially young people. He urged people with innovative ideas to support them as much as possible. “I am excited to be part of history, witnessing the commissioning of the YEF office. Being there at the inception three decades ago and seeing how it has consistently stayed true to its vision in the last 29 years while impacting lives, is truly remarkable. Many others that started when they did are no longer in existence due to one reason or the other and my fervent desire is that people with innovative ideas support what YEF is currently doing,” he said.
Poised to continue positively impacting the lives of Nigerian youths, YEF’s thematic areas include sexual reproductive health, HIV awareness and prevention, sports, personal and team leadership, and mentorship, WASH, education, life development, personal hygiene and financial literacy among others.
