Academy_strengthen_engages_with_the_Media

NAS strengthen engagement with the Media

In pursuit of its desire to work with relevant stakeholders to address social development and reproductive health issues of the youth, The
Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) has been engaging the Ekiti and Nasarawa State governments since 2013. NAS commissioned a project focused on addressing gaps in Youth Social Development and Reproductive Health in the two states. This project is ongoing and has adapted the Family Life Health Education (FLHE) curriculum for use in the States. On Friday, 24th of February, 2017, NAS held a roundtable meeting engaging the media and other stakeholders to disseminate the published FLHE curriculum of Ekiti and Nasarawa States intended to advance the teaching of FLHE in furtherance of the project implementation activities in the States.
The Academy appreciates the critical role that journalists play in informing and educating the general public on issues of national importance, and therefore seeks the need to strengthen her engagement with the media. Professor Mosto Onuoha, FAS, in his welcome remark; (his first engagement with journalists as President of NAS), charged the media to be a watchdog of the society.
The keynote speaker, Mrs. Adenike Esiet, Executive Director, Action Health Incorporated spoke on the topic “The FLHE Curriculum implementation in Nigeria: Why bother?”. In her presentation, she gave the profile of youngpeople’s sexual health in Nigeria. Mrs. Esiet explained what FLHE is, its goals, as well as the lessons from the curriculum’s implementation. She told the journalists that it takes “Strategy, Courage, and Resources” to make a big difference in playing their important roles. In attendance at the meeting was Mr. Naptali Dachor, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Water Resources, Nasarawa State, Mr. Abari Aboki, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth/Sports & Development, Nasarawa State; who brought goodwill messages from the State. Participants at the meeting include Professors Akinyinka Omigbodun, FAS, project lead,
Olusegun Ekundayo, FAS, Academic Secretary, Physical Sciences, Yinka Omigbodun, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Ibadan, some stakeholders, and journalists from different media houses in Nigeria.
The project was designed to stimulate the State governments to seek ways to improve the state of youth social development, wellbeing and reproductive health in Nigeria, using Nasarawa and Ekiti as pilot states. It has adapted the Family Life Health Education (FLHE) curriculum for use
in the two States, and is supported by Ford Foundation.