Neglecting adolescent health threatens economic future - UNICEF Expert warns
By Rauf Oyewole
A health specialist with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Dr. Oluseyi Olosunde, has warned that the systemic neglect of adolescent health and development threatens the country's future, urging stakeholders to design robust initiatives that cater specifically to this vulnerable demographic.
Speaking at a media dialogue in Azare, Bauchi State, on Tuesday, Olosunde noted a critical gap in Nigeria’s healthcare focus.
He observed that while significant attention is placed on maternal, newborn, and child health, little attention is given to adolescents, leaving millions to drift into behaviors that could permanently destroy their potential and physical well-being.
The "Triple Dividend" of Health Investment
Olosunde emphasized that adolescence is a critical window marked by rapid biological, social, emotional, and cognitive changes.
He argued that healthcare interventions during this period offer a triple dividend.
“Many life-long health behaviors, positive or risky, begin during adolescence. Early interventions can prevent adult illness and premature death,” Olosunde explained.
The expert warned that the lack of parental guidance and policy support drives adolescents toward substance abuse and other high-risk behaviors.
He linked this neglect directly to national insecurity and economic instability.
“If you have an adolescent who failed to obtain education and rejected skill acquisition, how could such a person be a productive workforce? Such a person has become a liability to the nation,” he said.
Olosunde pointed out that the cycle of poverty and poor health perpetuates itself when adolescents are untrained, often leading to survival-driven crimes and poor reproductive health choices.
To avert an implosive future, Olosunde called for targeted policies that unlock the full potential of young Nigerians.
“A healthy, educated, empowered adolescent population strengthens national and global development,” he said.
He urged parents to prioritize the upbringing of their children, noting that a well-guided adolescent is more likely to prioritize their own health and eventually give birth to healthy children, breaking the cycle of poor health outcomes.