Oyo govt. empowers girls through health education, skill acquisition
BY STEPHEN GBADAMOSI
The Oyo State Primary Health Care Board has successfully concluded the Integrated Adolescent Health and Economic Empowerment, Intervention for Girls in Oyo State, reaffirming its commitment to improving the health, well-being and economic independence of adolescent girls across the state.
The intervention combined adolescent health education with practical vocational skills acquisition to equip young girls with the knowledge, confidence and skills needed to become self-reliant and productive members of society.
According to a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the programme provided participants with hands on training in adire making, screen printing, liquid soap production, bag weaving and other vocational skills selected to create sustainable livelihood opportunities.
He said beyond skills acquisition, the intervention was designed to strengthen entrepreneurial capacity, improve economic resilience, reduce vulnerability to poverty and discourage social vices by providing girls with productive opportunities for income generation.
“The training sessions were held at Oja’gbo PHC, Ogbomoso North, Apete PHC, Egbeda, Monatan PHC, Lagelu, Oranyan PHC, Ibadan South East, Ajegunle PHC, Saki West, and Kamorudeen Shittu PHC, Oyo East Local Government Areas of Oyo State, providing beneficiaries across different communities with access to practical learning and empowerment opportunities.
“Addressing participants during the programme, the Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to adolescent development, describing girls as vital to the future of families, communities and the state.
“He emphasised that investing in girls through quality health education and economic empowerment is a strategic pathway to achieving sustainable social and economic development,” Oyelade said.
He quoted Dr. Olatunji a saying: “Our girls deserve every opportunity to succeed. By investing in their health, education, and economic empowerment today, we are building a healthier, more productive, and prosperous Oyo State for tomorrow. This intervention is designed to equip them with practical skills and the confidence to become self-reliant and responsible leaders in their communities.”
A major highlight of the programme was the practical entrepreneurship session adire making and liquid soap production, where participants were trained in production techniques, packaging and basic business management.
The session was designed to give the girls a practical income generating skill that could support financial independence, self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Olatunji was also said to have expressed appreciation to the development partners, facilitators, healthcare workers, community leaders, parents and other stakeholders whose contributions supported the successful implementation of the intervention.
He stressed that sustained collaboration remained essential to expanding access to adolescent-friendly health services and economic empowerment opportunities across Oyo State.
“Speaking during the training, one of the facilitators, Dr. Olufemi Oloyede of the Department of Consumer and Home Economics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, described vocational skills acquisition as a powerful tool for transforming the lives of adolescent girls.
“He noted that practical skills have significant commercial potential and can provide reliable sources of income for young entrepreneurs.
“Dr. Oloyede urged the participants to remain focused, disciplined and committed to putting the knowledge acquired into practice. He stated the success of the intervention would ultimately be reflected in the beneficiaries’ ability to establish sustainable businesses, achieve financial independence and make positive contributions to their communities.
“The State Adolescent Health Coordinator, Mr. Adeniyi Ademola, emphasised that adolescent health is central to the wellbeing and future of girls. He noted that when girls understand their bodies, mental health and rights, they are better positioned to remain in school, avoid preventable risks and build healthier families. According to him, “A healthy girl is a girl who can dream and act on that dream,” Oyelade reported.
