GHAi launches Next-Gen Health Governance project in Ondo

Get Healthy Africa Initiative (GHAi), with support from the Nigeria Youth Future Fund, has launched the Next-Gen Health Governance Project in Ondo State to empower young people with skills and platforms to influence health policies and strengthen accountability in the sector.

The programme, unveiled on Tuesday in Akure, is designed to harness the creativity and innovation of youths to drive evidence-based advocacy and sustainable community health solutions. Ondo was selected as the pilot site because of its vibrant youth population, with beneficiaries set to undergo training, mentorship and community engagement.

Speaking at the opening of the two-day workshop, Project Coordinator, Mr. Faysol Oluwakemi, said there was an urgent need for a generational shift in governance. “We are the generation, the energy, innovation, and passion are here, but we must learn how to channel them effectively into policy and practice,” he said.

According to him, “Over 280 young Nigerians applied to be part of the program, with 50 shortlisted for the first stage. Thirty participants will later proceed to a community fact-finding mission, where they will work directly with local stakeholders to gather data, strengthen accountability, and propose health policy solutions.

"By bridging the gap between government and young citizens, the project aims to cultivate a new cadre of health governance leaders who can advocate beyond social media, engage decision-makers, and build inclusive systems. This is more than a workshop, it is an invitation to leadership, an invitation to be seen and heard," he concluded.

Ondo State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Henry Omoyofunmi, represented by Mr. Jonathan Obatola, praised the initiative for prioritising youth empowerment and community ownership. He assured that the state government would continue to support programmes that promote inclusive development.

He urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity, saying: "This is more than a workshop. It is an invitation to leadership. It is an invitation to be seen and to be heard. Use this platform to learn, to connect, to ask critical questions, and to begin shaping the kind of health system you want to inherit and eventually lead. Whatever that is passed on to us, it looks like this alone. It will be built in community town halls, on advocacy platforms, through youth coalitions, and in spaces like this where knowledge meets purpose."

One of the participants, Miss Medinat Abdulazeez, said the training had deepened her understanding of governance, accountability, and civic engagement, which would help her contribute more meaningfully to her community.

The event, held at BON Hotel, Akure, was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Health, media executives, and other stakeholders.