Abuja, May 15 2025 — The Yo! Health initiative, aimed at improving health outcomes for young Nigerians, has officially been launched by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD). The programme was unveiled by the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, during a ceremony held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. (Youth Initiative)
Why Yo! Health Matters
Recognizing the growing health challenges faced by young people, Yo! Health is designed to empower youth with credible health information and access to essential services — helping them make informed decisions about their physical, mental, and social well-being. The initiative underscores that good health is fundamental if the nation’s youth are to achieve their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society. (Youth Initiative)
Focus Areas: The Six Strategic Pillars
Yo! Health is built around six key pillars that reflect critical health needs among young Nigerians: (Youth Initiative)
- Mental Health: raising awareness, offering support, and reducing stigma.
- Alcohol, Drug and Substance Abuse: Prevention and education to curb abuse.
- Communicable Diseases: Focusing on prevention, treatment, and education on diseases that commonly affect youth.
- Health Insurance (especially for youth in the informal sector): Improving access to affordable, quality healthcare.
- Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs): Promoting healthy lifestyles to prevent chronic illnesses.
- Sexual & Reproductive Health: Ensuring youth are educated and protected regarding reproductive health.
These pillars were selected based on evidence, data, and feedback from young Nigerians across the country to ensure the initiative responds to real needs. (Youth Initiative)
Core Objectives
Yo! Health operates under four main objectives:
- Raising awareness
- Empowering youth to take charge of their health
- Advocacy and influencing youth-health policy
- Co-design and implementation of youth-centred health interventions — ensuring youth participation in shaping solutions. (Youth Initiative)
Collaboration & Stakeholders
The success of Yo! Health relies on collaboration. The Ministry has engaged various stakeholders including the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, civil society organizations, international development partners, the private sector, and youth-led groups. This collective approach is designed to maximize reach and ensure effective implementation at both national and grassroots levels. (Youth Initiative)
Government’s Commitment
In his remarks, Minister Olawande praised the support of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration under the “Renewed Hope” agenda and reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment where youth can thrive mentally, physically, and emotionally. (Youth Initiative)
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olubunmi Olusanya, described Yo! Health as a comprehensive and structured framework for addressing youth-specific health challenges — a clear signal that the well-being of young people remains a top priority for the government. (Youth Initiative)
What’s Next
The Yo! Health initiative is already in motion. Over the coming months, it will roll out various outreach programmes, health-education campaigns, and collaborative events to ensure young Nigerians across the country benefit from its offerings. Young people are encouraged to stay informed and get involved through their local youth organisations, community groups, or directly via the Ministry. (Youth Initiative)
Contact: info@yid.fmyd.gov.ng | +234 812 980 8759 — Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Youth Initiatives (Monitoring & Delivery)