Active Youth for Africa Development Initiative

10/10/2025

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 10, 2025

Active Youth for Africa Development Initiative Marks World Mental Health Day 2025 in Ogun State; Calls for Greater Action on Youth Mental Health and Drug Abuse Prevention

Ogun State, Nigeria, October 10, 2025

In commemoration of World Mental Health Day 2025, the Active Youth for Africa Development Initiative (AYADI) joins the global community to raise awareness and advocate for stronger action to address the growing challenges of mental health issues and drug abuse among young people in Ogun State and across Nigeria.
World Mental Health Day, celebrated globally every October 10, emphasizes that mental health is a universal human right. This year’s commemoration comes at a time when many young Nigerians are facing increasing stress, depression, and substance use, often driven by unemployment, insecurity, and social pressure.

Speaking on the significance of the day, Solomon Asuquo, Founder and Executive Director of AYADI, stressed the urgent need to prioritize youth mental health and drug abuse prevention:

“In communities in many parts of the country, we’re seeing more young people turning to drugs as a way to cope with hopelessness and frustration. This crisis is not just about addiction; it’s about mental health, social inclusion, and access to opportunities. We must act now to protect our young people and empower them to seek help, stay resilient, and make healthy life choices.”

AYADI calls on government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector in Ogun State to:
1) Invest in youth-friendly mental health and rehabilitation services.

2) Integrate mental health education into school and community programs.

3) Support awareness campaigns against drug abuse and social stigma.

“The mental health of young people defines the strength of our society,” Asuquo added. “When young people are mentally healthy and drug-free, they become positive agents of change and nation-building.”

About AYADI:
Active Youth for Africa Development Initiative is a youth-led organization committed to advancing youth inclusion, leadership, and development across Africa. AYADI’s programs focus on civic engagement, mental health awareness, drug abuse prevention, peacebuilding, and economic empowerment. The organization works to build resilient young people who are mentally healthy, socially responsible, and actively engaged in shaping a better Africa.

07/10/2025

Engaging community champions and youth advocates to end gender based violence in Nigeria. Members of the Active Youth for Africa Development Initiative were duly represented

The Capacity-building training is ongoing, meet one of our amazing facilitator Mrs. Sowemimo who speak extensively on ''Preventing Unwanted Pregnancies, Unsafe abortion: promoting consent, respect, gender equality, and positive masculinity and transmission of HIV/AIDs and other STIs among women and teenage girls in communities and homes'' in ending HIV transmission and education them to be champions on ending unwanted and unplanned pregnancies, stigma surrounding women's access and uptake of modern contraception and family planning and support for their partners and others who are living with HIV/AIDS in their communities

26/09/2025

World Contraception Day

Today, on World Contraception Day (September 26), Active Youth for Africa Development Initiative stands with young people across Africa to say:

🔹 Every young person has the right to make informed choices about their s*xual and reproductive health.
🔹 Access to safe, affordable, and youth-friendly contraception is essential to ending teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and child marriage.
🔹 Consent and respect for bodily autonomy are non-negotiable.
🔹 Youth voices matter in shaping policies that protect our health and future.

At AYADI, we believe that informed youth are empowered youth. Together, let’s build a future where every pregnancy is planned, and every choice is respected.

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15/08/2025

Today, we participated in the International Youth Day Webinar: Local Youth Action for Gender Equality, organized by UN Women

A big congratulations to the winners of the UN Women Photography Challenge

13/08/2025

Securing Youth s*xual & reproductive health & rights is key to promoting their inclusion for local action. Yesterday, 12 August 2025, Youth Day, with the theme ‘’Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond’’ Active Youth for Africa Development Initiative joined the African Girls Empowerment Network and Moment for Women team on community sensitization on ending unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS.

We distributed free condoms and educated the young people on consent, safe s*x practices to prevent unwanted pregnancy, Sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Thank you, African Girls Empowerment Network team and partners, for your support and commitment to empowering young people and adolescents

12/08/2025

It's international Youth Day 2025

28/07/2025

UN Women Launches Global Photography Challenge to Spotlight Youth Gender Equality Action

In celebration of International Youth Day 2025, UN Women has announced the YOUth SDG 5 Photography Challenge, calling on young changemakers from around the world to visually showcase their work in advancing gender equality at the local level.

https://themomentforwomen.com/2025/07/27/un-women-launches-global-photography-challenge-to-spotlight-youth-gender-equality-action/