Mercy Corps advocates inclusion, empowerment of young people

Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian organisation, has called on governments at all levels to prioritise policies that foster the inclusion and development of young people.

Mercy Corps’ Country Director, Mr Ndubisi Anyanwu, speaking at the Girls Improving Resilience Through Livelihood and Health (GIRL-H) 2.0 Close Out Programme on Saturday in Lagos, emphasised the need for sustained commitment to empowering young people.

He highlighted the importance of creating a society where all individuals, regardless of gender, have equal opportunities to thrive.

The GIRL-H 2.0 programme, is an initiative to boost the socioeconomic resilience of adolescent girls, boys, and young people in Lagos State.

Anyanwu noted that the programme built on the successes of GIRL-H 1.0, focusing on three key pillars: financial inclusion, social behaviour change communication (SBCC), and public-private partnerships (PPP).

He said the programme, which targeted vulnerable individuals in five local government areas, Alimosho, Kosofe, Somolu, Ojo, and Epe, empowered participants with critical skills and resources to overcome societal challenges.

Anyanwu lauded the participants for demonstrating remarkable growth and resilience, noting that thousands of young people acquired valuable skills in financial literacy, business development, and social resilience.

He also acknowledged the role of public-private partnerships in creating sustainable livelihoods and fostering community engagement, which promoted gender equity.

Anyanwu urged private sector partners to deepen their investments in youth empowerment initiatives and appealed to communities to take ownership of the progress made to ensure the sustainability of the achievements.

Anyanwu was represented by Mr Bidemi Olukowajo, Director, Ethics and Assurance, Mercy Corps.

Similarly, Mrs Ibukunoluwa Seriki, Head of Mass Literacy at the Lagos State Agency for Mass Education, commended the GIRL-H initiative for equipping participants with essential life skills, entrepreneurial knowledge, and health awareness.

She highlighted the transformative power of collective action in addressing systemic challenges and creating opportunities for young people.

NAN also reports that the event featured product exhibitions by GIRL-H 2.0 participants and the presentation of cheques to winners of the Business Scale-up initiative across the five LGAs.