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| Panel discussion on ‘Advancing Youth-Friendly SRHR Service Delivery in Nigeria,’ at the SRHR Policy Dialogue Hosted by Nigeria Health Watch |
By Cynthia Umeh
Shades of Us participated in the SRHR Policy Dialogue organized by Nigeria Health Watch and supported by Organon. The event, titled “Closing Reproductive Health Impact Gaps – Strategic Approaches for Equity and Access,” brought together key voices in the health and development space to examine the growing challenges in delivering sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. With global funding on the decline, the conversation highlighted the pressing need for creative, homegrown strategies to ensure equitable and sustainable access to SRHR for all.
One of the standout sessions of the day was the panel discussion on ‘Advancing Youth-Friendly SRHR Service Delivery in Nigeria,’ featuring thought leaders and changemakers dedicated to creating inclusive, youth-centered health systems.
Panelists included:
Mokgadi Mashishi – Africa Access Lead, Organon
Dr. Fatima Bunza – Country Director, Tiko
Peace Umanah – Director of Communications, International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP)
Margaret Bolaji – Youth Partnerships Manager, FP2030 (North, West, and Central Africa Hub)
Testimony Adetemi – Marketing Lead, Healthtracka
Leveraging Technology to Close Gaps
Dr. Fatima Bunza, Country Director at Tiko, opened the session with a powerful reflection: “Technology is not just about devices, it is a bridge. A bridge that connects underserved girls to the information and services they deserve.”
She walked the room through Tiko’s ecosystem approach, one that doesn’t just rely on internet access but actively creates avenues for inclusion. For girls in remote areas without smartphones or connectivity, Tiko deploys mobile Tiko Carts and trained mobilizers to bring information directly to their communities.
“We have used technology for over a decade to expand access, and what we have learned is this, when a girl can search safely, compare sources, and find non-judgmental help, the shame starts to fade. The power starts to build.”
Healthtech Built with Kindness
When Testimony Adeyemi, Marketing Lead at Healthtracka, began to speak, the room lit up with the spirit of innovation. “We built Healthtracka with kindness,” she began. “Because health should not be scary or shameful.”
She shared how HPV self-sampling kits and the Lemon STI self-testing kit are changing the game for women. But it was the story of Lola AI, a WhatsApp-based digital assistant built to offer girls safe and judgment-free health information, that truly moved the room.
“Girls were not getting answers. So we built something that listens. That meets them where they are. That lets them ask without fear.”
And beyond tech? She reminded us of the human side: “Pink Fridays”, a space where women share, ask, learn, and heal together. Because community is as vital as code.
Young People: Not Just Stakeholders—Leaders
When Peace Umanah, Director of Communications at the International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP), spoke, the room leaned in. “IYAFP was born from exclusion,” she said. “Young people were not part of the policy conversations that shaped their lives.”
Peace did not just highlight the usual issues, access, affordability, and provider bias, she went deeper. “We need to tell our own stories. Not just glossy success stories, but real, raw, indigenous ones. That is what funders need to see. That is how we drive change.”
Youth Inclusion is a Strategic Investment
Margaret Bolaji from FP2030 gave a rousing intervention that reframed how we think about youth engagement. “Adolescents are not a one-size-fits-all group,” she said. “They are not a checkbox on a policy form, they are partners, leaders, and powerful agents of change.”
She reminded us that bringing young people into the room is only the beginning. “Capacity building, mentorship, and real decision-making power must follow. Otherwise, it is just tokenism.”
Her words landed hard and true: “Every contact with a young person is an opportunity to transform a life. That is a triple investment, the girl she is today, the woman she will become, and the mother she may choose to be.”
A Shift in Power Dynamics
The final panelist, Mokgadi Mashishi, Africa Access Lead at Organon, brought the conversation full circle. “We can not talk about equity without talking about access,” she said. “If SRH services are not there when a girl needs them, the consequences ripple out, from unsafe abortions to economic hardship.”
She challenged the room to reframe teenage pregnancy: “Let us not just judge. Let us ask why. Let us look at the factors, the pressures, the silences.”
For Mokgadi, youth inclusion is not a project; it is a principle. “We place young people on panels. We listen to them. We partner with grassroots organizations. Because we must be responsive, not reactive. The days of ‘children should be seen and not heard’ are long gone.”
Conclusion: From Conversation to Commitment
This panel laid out a blueprint for moving forward:
Use technology to reduce stigma and improve access.
Design with empathy to meet youth where they are.
Involve youth as co-creators, not just beneficiaries.
Invest sustainably, governments must own the responsibility.
At Shades of Us, we remain committed to amplifying youth voices, using storytelling to change narratives, and driving advocacy for inclusive, accessible, and equitable SRHR solutions.
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