UNLEASHING THE POTENTIALS OF YOUNG CHANGE MAKERS

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By Ashim Catherine Kiyi, Aliyu Abdulazaaz Aliyu, Roselyn Odeh and Ramatu Iyimoga.

Being a young person does not limit one’s ability to innovate, construct, and showcase capacity to drive change and create solutions. For far too long, the youths have in many instances been branded with negative stereotypes and thought to be irresponsible, unproductive, and lacking experience. But that is far from the true reality of things. Creating the enablement for young people to engage in transformative ventures is paramount. In recognition of this, Society for Family Health collaborated with Nigerian Health Watch to provide a platform for youths to amplify their voices at the Future of Health Conference with a focus on climate and health nexus.

On October 23rd and 24th, 2024, the Youth Pre Conference and the Future of Health Conference were held in Abuja with the themes “Amplifying Youth Voices for Climate Action” and “From Evidence to Action: Building Resilience at the Climate Health Nexus.” Being youth innovation officers working with Society for Family Health on the Adolescent360 project, we had the opportunity to be part of this unforgettable event for the first time in our lives! Stepping into this intriguing event, we felt a renewed sense of purpose. From observing the other more experienced participants, we realised that we are among the youngest attendees at the conference. It was intriguing to be in the same room with the Honorable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, influential Nigerian leaders, and young climate champions who have initiated impactful projects to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Being our first time in such a space, the experience was truly surreal. More fulfilling for us was to see the perspectives of young people like ourselves being taken seriously. This experience was more than just a conference, as it was a testament to the power of youth engagement.

It was interesting to participate in discussions of climate change and its effect on public health. Even though climate change is often perceived as a western problem due to their rapid industrialisation and technological advancement, its effect is worldwide, and it`s time to face the music. A daunting event if we do say so ourselves, as it places the responsibility squarely on us as youth to take meaningful action against climate change, regardless of age or status. The stories by the young climate change champions of starting small and growing big were a testament to the power of grassroots initiatives. Most significantly, this shattered the illusion that change requires a position of power. Additionally, this experience equipped us with the knowledge to harness the power of collaboration to drive change, also noting that integrity and accountability should be our watchword.

There is a need for multi-sectoral collaboration in promoting climate action and investing in primary health care as a basis for resilience to deal with climate changes and cope with challenges that are emerging to the value chain, creating avenues where responding to climate also creates an economic value—

Professor Muhammad Ali Pate. Tweet

As we reflect on our experiences at the Youth Pre Conference and the Future of Health Conference, we were inspired with a strong sense of direction. The challenges posed by climate change are immense, but so is our potential to effect change as every small action adds up. It is time for young people to rise and amplify their voices and to take decisive actions. We have the power to shape a better world for our generation. This we will continue to do while utilising opportunities and platforms created for us by Society for Family Health, to engage in meaningful conversations that drive development.

The future belongs to us, and our perspectives are vital in shaping policies and actions that affect our world. Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it is a health crisis that demands our attention, and as young people, we are committing to support the communities for whom we exist in developing solutions and strategies that prevent adverse effects of climate change.