By Damilola Samuel
The Ekiti State Government has pledged to intensify efforts to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) and drug abuse among adolescents, while expanding access to youth-friendly healthcare services across the state.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, said the government was committed to giving young people a greater voice in decisions affecting their health and wellbeing.
Filani spoke in Ado-Ekiti during activities marking the 2026 International Adolescent Health Week, organised by the state Ministry of Health and Human Services in collaboration with government agencies, civil society organisations and development partners.
Held under the theme, *“Nothing About Us Without Us: Power, Voice and Health Equity for All Adolescents,”* the event focused on adolescent participation, equitable healthcare access and interventions addressing the physical, mental and social needs of young people.
The commissioner said the state was strengthening its safe-space programmes, particularly peer-to-peer engagement initiatives that allow adolescents to share experiences, exchange information and learn from one another.
He explained that the approach encouraged two-way communication, enabling young people to express their concerns rather than merely receiving instructions from adults.
“What makes that safe-space programme quite interesting is the peer-to-peer approach that we take. This is not just us as a state or as adults speaking down to young people or adolescents and having a one-directional conversation,” Filani said.
“This is bidirectional, where we are also listening, but also where they are able to speak to one another and learn from one another. We have found that this has been very effective, and we will continue to strengthen and support it.”
On gender-based violence, Filani reiterated the state government’s zero-tolerance stance, saying reported cases were being addressed and those suitable for prosecution were pursued to ensure justice and discourage further offences.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy for gender-based violence. We report all of these cases, and the ones that we can prosecute, we aggressively prosecute them to ensure that, one, it serves as a deterrent, but also that justice is served,” he said.
He added that the government would continue working to ensure adolescents could access safe and supportive healthcare services without feeling ignored or dismissed.
“We are excited about our efforts, but excitement does not necessarily mean that we are resting on our oars,” the commissioner said.
“We must continue as a government to be deliberate and focused and ensure that every adolescent in Ekiti has access to safe, conducive services that they can use without feeling that they have been dismissed or unheard.”
Adolescent participants also highlighted the importance of involving young people in shaping public health policies and improving the services designed for them.
Blessing Akintimeyin said the engagement demonstrated the government’s interest in making adolescents active contributors to decision-making rather than passive recipients of public health interventions.
Another participant, Babawale Akinwunmi, called for improvements in the system, particularly in addressing psychological challenges and the stigma associated with health-related conditions.
The state government’s renewed commitment places adolescent participation, access to responsive healthcare and efforts to address gender-based violence at the centre of its public health agenda.
