The Oyo State Government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde has taken another step towards promoting the wellbeing and economic independence of adolescent girls through an integrated health education and skills acquisition programme implemented by the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board.
The intervention, which focused on adolescent health and economic empowerment, exposed participating girls to health education as well as practical vocational training in areas including Adire making, screen printing, liquid soap production and bag weaving.
The initiative according to the Oyo State commissioner for information Prince Dotun Oyelade is aimed at equipping the beneficiaries with useful skills that can provide opportunities for self-employment and financial independence.
The training was conducted across selected communities through Oja’gbo PHC in Ogbomoso North, Apete PHC in Egbeda, Monatan PHC in Lagelu, Oranyan PHC in Ibadan South East, Ajegunle PHC in Saki West and Kamorudeen Shittu PHC in Oyo East Local Government Area.
The programme provided girls from different communities with access to practical learning and adolescent-friendly health information.
Speaking during the programme, the Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, said empowering girls with knowledge, confidence and practical skills was an investment in the future of the state.
He stressed that healthy and economically empowered girls would be better positioned to contribute positively to their families and communities.
Dr. Olatunji said the programme was also designed to reduce the vulnerability of young girls to poverty and social vices by creating productive avenues for them to acquire skills and generate income.
He further appreciated development partners, facilitators, healthcare workers, community leaders, parents and other stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the initiative.
One of the facilitators, Dr. Olufemi Oloyede of the Department of Consumer and Home Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, urged the beneficiaries to take the training seriously and put their newly acquired skills into practice.
In the same vain, the State Adolescent Health Coordinator, Mr. Adeniyi Ademola, encouraged the girls to prioritise their health, understand their rights, develop financial discipline and take advantage of opportunities that could help them become self-reliant.