Youth-Adult Partnership: A Post Barcelona Forum on HIV/AIDS
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Nigerian youths under the aegis of two youth and one communication fo-
cused non-governmental organizations will on Wednesday November 13,
2002 bring together several youth serving NGOs at a Post-Barcelona fo-
rum to brainstorm on the imperative of a sustained partnership between
adults and youth in addressing the reproductive health and sexual needs
of Nigerian youth.
Involving young people in decision-making provides them with the essen-
tial opportunities and supports (i.e. challenges, relevancy, voice,
cause-based action, skills building, adult structure, and affirmation)
that have been consistently shown to help young people achieve their
set goals.
The forum in Lagos Nigeria tagged "Youth-Adult Partnership" is geared
towards promoting effective communication between young people and
adult groups especially on issues relating to HIV/AIDS and other
reproductive health issues.
It is aimed at sharing the lessons learned from the International Con-
ference on HIV/AIDS held last July in Barcelona as it relates to Nige-
ria and channeling a common course to curtail the spread of the pan-
demic. It will also be an avenue to brainstorm with stakeholders, young
people and NGOs that attended the Barcelona Summit and seek ways of
promoting effective partnership between youths and adults especially
in areas that affect the overall development of the Nigerian youth.
In Nigeria, and indeed in most parts of Africa the youth are the worst
affected by HIV/AIDS. While the Nigeria's National Prevalence Rate is
5.8 per cent the age-specific prevalence rates among youth ages 25-29
years is 6.3% and ages 20-24 is 6.0%. Yet adults have taken the center
stage in formulating policies and designing/implementing program that
are not youth-friendly. The forum will provide an avenue to design
strategic alliances that would ensure that youths are an integral part
in addressing issues that affect their development in partnership with
key leadership organizations.
Representatives from UNICEF, CEDPA, NGOs and other Youth Serving Or-
ganisation (YSOs) in Nigeria will attend the forum, which starts at
10.00am at the multi-purpose hall of the Psychiatric Hospital Yaba
Lagos Nigeria.
The forum is collaboration between three organizations - Nigeria Youth
Action Rangers (NYAR), Development Communications Network, and Network
for Adolescents and Youth of Africa (NAYA). The forum is the first in
a series of programs to be implemented by the three organizations. We
look forward to working with other organization with interest in youth
participation in issues that affect their life and development.
Thank you.
For: Youth-Adult Partnership
Moses Imayi
Executive Director
Nigeria Youth Action Rangers (NYAR)
mailto:mracnigeria@yahoo.com
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