The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is set to formally launch it’s project titled “Our Rights, Our lives, Our future,” (O3 Programme).
The project is funded by UNESCO and the government of Sweden.
The formal launch is scheduled for Tuesday, June 12, at Rockview Hotel, Royale, Wuse 2, Abuja.
A statement from UNESCO said the overall goal of the O3 Programme, “is to support adolescent and young people in Nigeria to realise positive health, education and gender equality outcomes through sustained reduction in HIV new infections, early and unintended pregnancy, gender based violence (GBV) and child marriage.”
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The statement disclosed that the successful implementation of the first phase of the project in East and Southern African countries has contributed in addressing significant social and health challenges in the region among a highly vulnerable group, thereby providing a “strong justification to extend the programme to the West and Central Africa countries including Nigeria where demographic, health and social data underline the urgency to empower young people to prevent HIV, avoid unintended pregnancies and reduce GBV.”
In Nigeria, according to the statement, the O3 Programme will leverage and build on the successes already achieved by the Family Life and HIV/AIDS Education (FLHE) Programme.
It is also expected to secure and sustain strong political commitment and support for adolescents and young people’s access to health education, support the delivery of accurate, rights – based and good quality Family Life and HIV/AIDS Education that provide knowledge, values and skills essential for safer behaviours, reduced adolescent pregnancy and gender equality.
It is further expected that the programme will ensure that school and community environments are safer, healthier and inclusive for all young people while strengthening the evidence base on FLHE and safer school environments.
The project is expected to be launched by the ministers of Education and Health.
