Adolescence is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood and as Nigeria’s over 26 million adolescents prepare to enter adulthood, they face enormous challenges in an environment of rapid urbanisation and social change. The transitions typical of adolescence are magnified for Nigerian youths who are caught between the markedly different cultures of traditional communities and changes brought about by rapid urbanisation, globalization and a media-saturated environment. Emerging data on adolescent sexual and reproductive behaviour continues to indicate earlier ages of sexual initiation ranging from 12 – 16 years. They also show that much of these encounters are unprotected, such that the outcomes include unwanted pregnancy, unsafe induced abortions and sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.
Action Health Incorporated (AHI) is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation dedicated to improving the health of Nigerian adolescents. Since 1989, AHI has worked with youths, community leaders, policy makers, parents, state and federal government officials to design and implement innovative and participatory projects in education, healthcare and youth development, providing models that have been adopted and expanded by government and other civil society organisations. With an annual budget of over US $1,000,000, AHI’s work is supported with funds from grants and contract awards from international organisations that include, the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, International Women’s Health Coalition, Packard Foundation, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and Futures Group International, amongst others.
