Government Pushes for Change in Gender Norms to Boost Youth Health

The federal government is urging for stronger action to change harmful gender norms. These norms lead to early pregnancy, violence, exclusion, and poor health among young people in Nigeria.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, made this statement on Wednesday in Abuja. He spoke at the 2026 Gender and Inclusion Summit organized by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) in partnership with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).

The summit had the theme, “From Agenda to Action: Making Innovations Count for the Last Mile.” It focused on turning policies and innovations into real results, especially for those who are underserved and vulnerable.

While giving his speech, Mr Salako pointed out that gender norms affect how adolescents act, access healthcare and education, express themselves, and engage in society. He said strict social expectations based on wrong ideas and unfair practices often limit young people's chances and expose them to discrimination and other risks.

He noted that harmful gender norms can worsen discrimination, violence, early pregnancy, exclusion, and poor health outcomes. “Transforming gender norms matters because we must address norms that limit access to healthcare, safety, education, and the ability to earn and make decisions,” he said.

Mr Salako mentioned that the federal government has made strides in improving adolescent health and promoting gender equality through policies and programs. He said the government has worked to raise awareness of adolescent health programs and expand access to sexual and reproductive health services for young people.

He listed services that include family planning, sexually transmitted infections, HIV prevention, counseling, and other sexual and reproductive health needs. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has also developed the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy for 2025 to 2030.

According to him, the ministry has integrated gender and adolescent health through a dedicated Gender and Adolescent Programmes and Adolescent Health Department under its Family Health Department. This setup will help tackle gender-related barriers to healthcare and the different health needs of adolescents and young people.

Mr Salako also mentioned the National Adolescent Health Policy, the National Gender and Health Policy, guidelines for caring for survivors of gender-based violence, and training programs for healthcare providers. These efforts are part of the government's plan to enhance adolescent health.

He stated that the Adolescent Health Development and Coordination Committee serves as a platform to coordinate interventions and review adolescent health programs. The government has also started a national Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign aimed at over 40 million adolescents across the country.

He said they are working hard to keep the campaign going and ensure that young people who are eligible are reached. Mr Salako also mentioned the Strengthening Access to Reproductive Health by Adolescent Health Project, which is being carried out in Sokoto and Adamawa states. The lessons learned from this project are expected to help with its expansion.

In addition, he said the government is collaborating with stakeholders to improve the skills of institutions and service providers involved in adolescent health. Mr Salako said a new study on gender norms, attitudes, health, and well-being will provide important data to guide government policies and programs.

He explained that the study will gather nationally representative data on the social and gender norms affecting the behavior and health outcomes of adolescents in Nigeria. The study will look into issues like child marriage, gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, HPV vaccination, and women's economic empowerment.

He said this evidence will help shape interventions across different sectors, including health, education, social protection, and economic empowerment. “The evidence produced will be instrumental in informing policy formulation, programming, and financing across sectors,” he stated.

Mr Salako emphasized that the government will keep prioritizing adolescent health while working with stakeholders to ensure that policies and innovations reach those who need them most. He encouraged participants at the summit to use the evidence from the study to strengthen efforts and bridge the gender and generational gaps affecting young people in Nigeria.