Mubi: The Alimat Care Foundation (ACF), a youth-led organisation, has unveiled an initiative to advance Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for women and girls in Adamawa. Mr Ibrahim Bello, the Executive Director of ACF, disclosed this on Wednesday at the inception meeting in Mubi Local Government Area.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the project, titled ‘Breaking Barriers: A New Chapter for Girls and Women in Adamawa’, is supported by Amplify Change. Bello stated that the initiative focuses on policy reforms and cultural transformation to improve the rights, safety, and leadership of girls. The project will be implemented in Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, and Michika Local Government Areas of the state. The launch provided a platform for dialogue, reflection, and shared commitment among stakeholders on issues affecting girls’ rights, health, and informed choices. Conversations around girls’ rights and health are often muted, but this initiative seeks to change the narrative.
Bello noted that the project comes at a time when girls in North-East Nigeria face cultural barriers, limited access to health information, and weak accountability systems. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with ACF’s mission to ensure that every girl is safe, informed, empowered, and able to lead change in her community. The project aims to shift harmful social norms, strengthen institutions, and create an enabling environment for girls to thrive.
Also speaking, the Programme Lead, Ms Yinasim Dagal, highlighted that the inception meeting brought together government officials, school leaders, civil society actors, and youth advocates. According to her, the meeting fostered collective ownership among stakeholders, which is essential for sustainable development and long-term impact. Dagal pointed out that the project targets challenges in conflict-affected communities where poverty, displacement, and gender inequality expose girls to early marriage and gender-based violence.
‘The initiative will bridge gaps between existing laws, including the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, and the realities faced by women and girls. It will focus on policy implementation, community engagement, and youth-led advocacy to achieve its objectives,’ she said. She added that the foundation’s approach prioritises community-led transformation, ensuring women, girls, and youths actively participate in shaping solutions. Dagal listed expected outcomes to include improved awareness of SRHR policies, youth empowerment, inclusive dialogue, and strengthened accountability systems.