27/08/2024
The USAID-funded Youth-Powered Ecosystem to Advance Urban Adolescent Health (YPE4AH) project held a close-out dissemination event in Lagos this August, celebrating the end of its transformative four-year program. The project, in collaboration with the Nigerian Government, DAI, YEDI, WFI, YBR, and GRS, focused on improving the health and well-being of out-of-school youth in urban slums in Lagos and Kano.
Held at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, the event, themed "A Legacy of Empowerment," featured high-profile attendees, including DAI Global CEO Dr. Jim Boomgard, DAI President Tine Knott, DAI Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Joe Abah, with virtual participation from USAID-YPE4AH AOR Dr. Gertrude Odezugo. Dignitaries from Lagos and Kano, along with USAID representatives, also participated.
In attendance was the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency Babajide Sanwoolu, represented by Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Sam Egube, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, represented by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Toni Adeyemi. The Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of the UN on Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Honorable Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Lagos State, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, represented by the Deputy Director of Youth Development, Mrs. Rashidat Umar. Other government officials and celebrity influencers were also present.
The Chief of Party, Boladale Akin-Kolapo, highlighted the project’s successes, such as reaching over 300,000 adolescents, empowering 67,000 with life skills, and preventing over 7,000 unintended pregnancies. Testimonies from youth beneficiaries showcased the project's impact on leadership, livelihood, and health.
The event concluded with presenting a sustainability plan to state representatives, who committed to continuing the program's legacy.