Africa ( Europe Brief News): NACA equips West African adolescents and youths with digital skills to fight HIV stigma, spread awareness, and promote informed public health messaging.
NACA’s Director-General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, stated during the commencement of the five-day training in Abuja on Monday that the program was created to take use of the extensive reach and power of digital platforms.
She also mentioned that this was done to encourage the adoption of healthy habits and promote good transformation.
NACA organized the workshop in association with the Caring Lots International Initiative and the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
Ilori pointed out that stigma, discrimination, unemployment, and restricted access to education and digital skills were common issues for young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) and other vulnerable youths in West Africa.
“The future is not only digital, our world today is already digital. Content creation has become an essential skill.
Perception is everything, and we are witnessing a wide range of successful advocacy efforts through content creation,”
Ilori said.She added that the training would empower participants to become voices of change and hope.
“One of the things that breaks my heart is seeing online content that promotes risky sexual behaviour and drug use among youths,”
she said.
Ilori highlighted NACA’s commitment to youth-focused HIV prevention, referencing the Nigeria HIV Prevention Strategy for Adolescents and Young People, which prioritised communication and content creation as a core strategy.
She urged the attendees to use their platforms to promote social and health causes, including HIV/AIDS, and to become positive role models and digital change agents.
In accordance with Nigeria’s HIV programming objectives and the UNAIDS 2030 targets, she said, the training was designed to reach 40 young people in Abuja and the surrounding areas who were living with or impacted by HIV.
“The goal is to improve their quality of life and support the adoption of positive lifestyles.
The training covered a variety of topics, including: Introduction to Digital Skills & Opportunities. Entrepreneurship Training, AI Tools for Content Creation, Creating & Managing Digital Platforms, Multimedia Skills, Hands-On Design Using Canva.”
According to Ilori, equipping youth with digital skills is essential to improving their self-sufficiency, mental health, and socioeconomic stability.
“This initiative is expected to equip them to access remote job opportunities, become entrepreneurs, and effectively advocate for their rights,”
she added.
Mr Murtala Mahmoud, representing the ACCI Business Entrepreneurship Skills and Technology (BEST) Centre, emphasised that the training was more than just learning software or social media tools, it was about empowerment, opportunity, and resilience.
“This initiative is a powerful example of what happens when the government, private sector, and civil society come together to invest in young people.
It’s not just training, it’s a platform for transformation,”
he said.
Also speaking, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, First Deputy President of ACCI, encouraged participants to use their new skills to create more awareness on HIV/AIDS, especially at the community level.
“You are not only learning technical skills but also being positioned to become digital change agents, amplifying the voices of your communities and contributing to a more informed, engaged, and healthy society,”
he said.
In interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a few participants thanked the organizers, stating that the knowledge and resources they had gained will enable them to use digital platforms to raise awareness of health issues and encourage constructive change.
What are the key aspects included in the program?
Participants gain knowledge of managing digital platforms, creating material with AI technologies, and honing their multimedia talents with Canva and other similar applications.
By empowering young people to become advocates and digital media influencers for HIV-related issues, the program helps to raise awareness and lessen stigma.
The program promotes socioeconomic stability by equipping participants with the knowledge necessary to launch digital companies and access remote employment opportunities.
In addition to tablets and certificates, graduates are given chances for further mentoring to support their entrepreneurial endeavors and digital involvement.
By bridging the digital divide, the initiative hopes to enhance mental health and empower vulnerable youths to advocate for their rights.
