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A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Ayodele Arowojolu, has stressed the need for Nigeria to provide comprehensive sexuality education, quality healthcare, and supportive environments for adolescents. He said such action must be inclusive and involve governments at all levels, schools, parents, religious bodies, and society at large. Arowojolu raised this concern as a guest speaker at the Seventh Aina Omololu-Mulele Endowment Annual Lecture in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Thursday. He spoke on the topic titled: “Sexual and Reproductive Health Challenges among Adolescents in Low and Middle-Income Countries.” Many secondary school students in Lagos attended the lecture. According to the guest lecturer, effective sexuality education and a supportive environment for adolescents, regardless of background, will lead to responsible sexual behaviour and promote mental health and overall well-being. Prof. Arowojolu, who is the Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, defined adolescence as the period between 10 and 19 years old, representing the transition from childhood to adulthood. This phase, he pointed out, is crucial because it is characterised by rapid physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development, often associated with the onset of puberty. The don expressed concern that, unfortunately, most adolescents face a myriad of challenges at this stage, ranging from the absence of sexuality education and guidance, rising cases of teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions, drug abuse, sexual violence, school dropouts, to early marriage. He added that misinformation from peers and social media further worsens the situation, noting that the consequences of all these are not limited to individuals but also affect families and society at large. While advocating the inclusion of sexual health education in school curricula, especially at the secondary level, the guest lecturer maintained that a multi-sectoral approach involving policymakers, educators, parents, healthcare providers, and community leaders is required to address the concern. ALSO READ: How to tackle youth unemployment in Nigeria — Olaopa According to him, adolescents must be equipped with accurate knowledge, access to services, and a supportive environment. The don also underscored the significance of exposing adolescents to vocational and technical training as another vital tool to enhance their preparation for the world of work, noting that schooling delays early marriage and first births, and promotes gender equality. “But when adolescents are not engaged in education or skills acquisition, they tend to indulge in risky sexual behaviour, early marriage, and multiple childbearing, all of which perpetuate poverty and limit future opportunities,” he posited. Arowojolu therefore observed that the lack of structured sex education is pronounced in most African countries, unlike in Europe and parts of Asia, where comprehensive sexuality programmes are integrated into school curricula. He, however, expressed appreciation to the organisers of the programme for inviting him to share knowledge, particularly with the secondary school students in attendance. In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, expressed happiness over the annual lecture, underscoring the importance of its continuity and its positive impact on young doctors, medical education, and humanity at large. The Vice Chancellor, represented by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the annual lecture and former Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic and Research), Prof. Oluwole Familoni, congratulated this year’s recipient of the annual Omololu-Mulele Award, Dr. Godwin Oyewumi. She also thanked the family of the late Mulele for using the platform to impact society. Dignitaries in attendance included the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Adeyemo Wasiu; former CMD, Prof. Akin Osibogun; Prof. Kofoworola Ogedengbe, the first indigenous female professor of obstetrics and gynaecology in West Africa; Prof. Olalekan Abudu, a former Provost of the College of Medicine, UNILAG, who chaired the event; Dr. Femi Mulele and his wife, Mrs. Brandi Austin-Mulele; the current Provost of the College of Medicine, UNILAG, Prof. Ademola Oremosu, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Daniel Odebiyi; and the Director of the Office of Advancement and former Registrar, UNILAG, Dr. Taiwo Ipaye, among others. The high point of the event was the presentation of the N3 million research grant dummy cheque to this year’s winner of the Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele Award, Dr. Godwin Oyewumi, who is a Senior Resident Doctor at LUTH. Oyewumi won the grant with his research thesis titled: “The effect of open myomectomy and uterine artery occlusion with tourniquet on ovarian reserve: A multicentre prospective longitudinal study in Lagos.” Prof. Familoni told Nigerian Tribune that the entry was adjudged the best after rigorous evaluation alongside other submissions received this year. He noted that the recipient, who is an early-career researcher, is currently a doctoral candidate at the Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. Familoni explained that the annual event would continue to serve as a veritable platform to share knowledge on public health issues and influence behavioural change and policy direction. The late Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele, in whose honour the annual lecture and award are instituted, was a renowned educationist, lawyer, and philanthropist. She passed on in 2009. NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
