By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
The governments of Adamawa and Bauchi States in Nigeria’s North-East are stepping up efforts to mainstream Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) education into governance, adopting deliberate strategies that place adolescents themselves at the centre of policy implementation. This renewed commitment reflects a growing recognition that sustainable solutions to adolescent health challenges must go beyond policy declarations to include the voices, experiences and leadership of young people.
These efforts are unfolding against the backdrop of troubling demographic and health indicators. Government data show that Adamawa State has an estimated population of about 5.2 million people as of 2025, reflecting a growth rate of approximately six per cent since 2022.
Nearly half of this population—about 45 per cent—falls within the 0–14 age bracket, while adolescents and young people make up a significant proportion of the remaining population.
More worrying, however, are the sexual and reproductive health indicators among adolescents. Adamawa State records a fertility rate of 5.3, higher than the national average. About 15 per cent of girls aged 15–19 have experienced pregnancy, while only 4.2 per cent of adolescents in this age group use modern contraceptive methods. Early marriage remains widespread, with approximately 44 per cent of girls marrying before the age of 18.
These statistics translate into real-life consequences: disrupted education, lost opportunities and intergenerational cycles of poverty. Many adolescent girls drop out of secondary school due to unintended pregnancies or early marriage, truncating their ambitions and limiting their life chances.
Nothing illustrates this reality more vividly than the story of Halima (not her real name), a 15-year-old girl from Yola, Adamawa State. Her mother could only estimate her age by recalling past elections and political events. When Halima became pregnant, the signs went unnoticed for months. Her menstrual cycle had always been irregular, and without proper sexual and reproductive health education, neither she nor her caregivers recognised the warning signals.
At the time, Halima was in Junior Secondary School Three. She was quiet, studious and full of dreams. When curiosity and fear finally pushed her to take a pregnancy test, the result shattered her world. She was still a child—confused, frightened and unprepared for motherhood.
No one had ever explained sexual and reproductive health to her in a way she could understand. Yet such knowledge is critical for girls her age, enabling them to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and violations of their bodily rights.
In her community, adolescent pregnancy carries deep stigma. Halima’s mother wept endlessly, overwhelmed by shame and fear. At one point, she considered sending her daughter away. Halima herself thought of running, but had nowhere to go.
As the statistics suggest, Halima’s story is far from isolated. About 15 per cent of girls aged 15–19 in Adamawa State have already experienced pregnancy, many without access to accurate information or adolescent-friendly health services.
For months, Halima withdrew from public life. Shame kept her away from school and friends, while fear of stigma prevented her from seeking antenatal care. “The devastation was terrible,” her mother recalls.
A Shared Challenge in Bauchi
In neighbouring Bauchi State, adolescent sexual and reproductive health indicators have similarly become a source of concern for government and development partners. Out of a population of 8.8 million people, adolescents account for about 1.32 million.
According to Amina Balali, Gender Focal Person at the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board (BASPHCDB), several structural challenges undermine effective ASRH service delivery. These include inadequate human resources for health, the absence of dedicated budget lines for adolescent health services, insufficient adolescent- and youth-friendly health centres, weak monitoring mechanisms, and persistent knowledge and attitude gaps among healthcare workers.
“These gaps limit adolescents’ access to timely information, counselling and services,” she explains, “leaving them exposed to early sexual activity, unintended pregnancy, poor menstrual hygiene management and substance abuse.”
Momentum Through Partnerships
In response, support from the European Union (EU) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), implemented by UNICEF Nigeria’s Bauchi Field Office, is gradually transforming the ASRH landscape in both Adamawa and Bauchi States. Through targeted interventions, awareness is increasing and adolescents are emerging as advocates within their own communities.
Halima’s story took a hopeful turn through this very approach. Before her pregnancy, she had belonged to a small adolescent girls’ group in her community. One of her closest friends, Fatima Abdullahi, noticed her prolonged absence and went to check on her.
“When her friends came looking for her, I was relieved she was not lost,” Halima’s mother recalls.
After learning the truth, Fatima and other girls in the group rallied around Halima. They visited her regularly, listened to her fears and reassured her that her life was not over. More importantly, they encouraged her to seek antenatal care, sometimes walking with her to the health facility.
Their confidence came from training received under the EU-funded Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health (EU SARAH) project, implemented by UNICEF in collaboration with the Adamawa State Government and UNFPA.
“The training gave us confidence,” Fatima explains. “We learned about our bodies, our rights and how to support other girls.”
Strengthening Media and Community Engagement
In Bauchi State, UNICEF recently organised a media dialogue for journalists as part of advocacy efforts under the GAC-funded Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Nutrition initiative. The dialogue aimed to improve ethical, gender-sensitive reporting and deepen media understanding of adolescent health challenges.
UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office Health Officer, Oluseyi Olosunde noted that with limited decision-making power among adolescent girls and high rates of anaemia and malnutrition, the media plays a critical role in shaping public perception and driving positive behaviour change.
Journalists later visited Filatari and Kaluluwa communities in Madara Ward, Katagum Local Government Area, where they interacted freely with adolescent boys and girls on sexual and reproductive health issues—an interaction that would have been unthinkable not long ago due to cultural taboos.
For 13-year-old Fatima Abubakar of Kaluluwa, participation in the adolescent club has boosted her confidence. “I caution my peers about the dangers of sex before marriage,” she says. “I always advocate abstinence as the best protection.”
Adamu Inuwa Ibrahim, Health Educator for Katagum LGA, explained that adolescent clubs in each ward—supported by community groups such as Mama2Mama—conduct regular sessions on menstrual hygiene, sexually transmitted infections and reproductive health.
Signs of Impact
The impact of these adolescent champions is becoming evident. In Filatari community, 15-year-old Faiza Abubakar says the training has empowered her group to speak confidently about reproductive health and to advocate against child marriage. “Some people support us, others are indifferent, but we are not discouraged,” she says.
Similarly, 17-year-old Usman Ali focuses his advocacy on drug abuse and menstrual hygiene education among boys. “Drug addiction is destroying young lives,” he warns, calling for the expansion of adolescent champion programmes to reach more remote communities.
Back in Adamawa, Halima is rebuilding her life. With peer support, she now attends antenatal care regularly and speaks openly about her future. She dreams of returning to school and becoming a nurse. “I want to help other girls understand their bodies and their rights,” she says softly.
Her journey underscores a powerful truth: adolescent girls cannot be an afterthought. Investing in their health, knowledge and rights is not only protective—it is transformative.
The adolescent champions are receiving commendable support from community elders, which is boosting their commitment and enthusiasm for promoting awareness on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH).
This was evident during a field visit to Madara Ward in Katagum Local Government Area, where caregivers and community leaders praised the efforts of adolescent groups. Some mothers noted that these initiatives are complementing parental efforts to instill positive values in their children.
Six months into the implementation of the GAC-funded SRHR and Nutrition project in Bauchi State, with technical support from UNICEF, early signs suggest that adolescent health is finally receiving the attention it deserves. For Adamawa, Bauchi and Nigeria at large, this investment represents a crucial step toward building a healthier, more empowered generation.
Some names are changed to protect identity
Part of this feature story was inspired by a story monitored on UNICEF’s page