By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has unveiled a four-pillar action framework to transform harmful gender norms, improve adolescent health and ensure that policies and innovations deliver meaningful impact to vulnerable and underserved populations in Nigeria.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the Gender and Inclusion Summit 2026, stressing the need to move from policy formulation to effective implementation.
Salako said the framework would focus on embracing gender-transformative approaches, strengthening diverse partnerships, translating evidence into action and ensuring accountability through mechanisms that track progress and amplify the voices of young people, particularly at the grassroots.
He said the first pillar requires stakeholders to adopt gender-transformative approaches that challenge harmful social norms while promoting equity, dignity and opportunities for adolescents.
The second pillar, he said, is strengthening diverse partnerships to address the social determinants of health, noting that improving adolescent well-being requires coordinated action across sectors.
According to him, the third pillar is translating evidence into action by integrating findings from surveys and research into national policies, plans and programmes.
He identified the fourth pillar as ensuring accountability, with mechanisms to track progress and amplify youth voices in communities across Nigeria.
Salako said harmful gender norms could reinforce discrimination, exclusion, violence, early pregnancy and poor health outcomes by influencing how adolescents access healthcare, education, safety and economic opportunities.
He stressed that transforming gender norms was therefore essential to creating an environment where every Nigerian adolescent, male or female, could be safe, healthy, empowered and able to reach their full potential.
The minister also highlighted Federal Government efforts to strengthen adolescent health, including expanded sexual and reproductive health services, development of the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy 2025–2030, and institutional mechanisms addressing gender-related barriers to healthcare.
He further cited Nigeria’s national HPV vaccination campaign and other policies and guidelines targeting adolescent health, gender equality and protection from gender-based violence.
On the national survey on gender norms, attitudes, health and well-being, Salako said its findings would provide evidence on the social and gender norms shaping adolescent behaviour and health outcomes in Nigeria.
He said the evidence would be critical to policymaking and programme design across health, education, social protection and economic empowerment.
The minister urged stakeholders to ensure that the summit moves beyond dialogue and becomes a catalyst for practical action capable of reaching underserved communities.
He said the summit’s outcome should serve as a stepping stone towards a more inclusive and resilient health system that gives particular attention to Nigerian girls and women.
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