A health non-governmental organisation, the Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative (YEDI), says it plans to impact over 1.2 million youths in the next five years through its various programmes.

The Executive Director of YEDI, Tomisin Adeoye, disclosed this during the 10th anniversary celebration of the organisation in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that YEDI was established to serve youths in grassroots communities with skills programmes, sexual reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, malaria prevention and treatment services.

Adeoye expressed joy that the organisation which started with just five schools and one church has expanded to serve several communities across Nigeria.

“In the past 10 years, we have expanded our reach to Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Abuja, Ogun and Kano states and at least 260,000 young people have benefited from our skills acquisition programme.

“Over 4,000 people have been able to know their HIV status, and we have distributed bed nets to disadvantaged communities through our outreaches,” she said.

She said they were to achieve this feat with the support of their partners like Exxon Mobil, ACT Foundation, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Grassroots Soccer Inc.

She said other partners were the Lagos State Ministries of Education, health, youth and social development, Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Adeoye added that YEDI plans to reach 100 new communities and 20 Local Government Areas in six new states, with 80 per cent of beneficiaries taking action to effect social change.

She, however, called for more support from corporate and international organisations to be able to reach more young people in Nigeria.

She also called on youths to take charge and be the change agents they desire and make changes in their immediate environment.

Charlotte Obadairo, Founder of YEDI, said though the journey was filled with challenges, they had been able to make tremendous impact through Grassroots Soccer, Hello Lagos, skills development and health programmes.

“As we closely examine our history book, we need to take stock of the decisions we took over the years and learn as we move ahead.

“Whatever we do must make sense to our youths, have data and truth, must be scalable and have partners in hand to achieve our goal,” she said.

Dr Omolaso Omosehin, Head of Lagos Liaison office, UNFPA, commended YEDI for their impact and advised them to continue to expand their reach to more communities.

“When they started the partnership with UNFPA to reach the youths, I saw that they were able to go to areas we were not able to reach.

“From the testimonies we have heard, we can see that the youths are working hard to actualise their vision.

“I want YEDI to expand to reach more youths like they have promised to do in the next five years because the present belongs to the youths.

“Youths must wake up to this responsibility, they have to work hard to make sure they occupy the position we expect them in the society,” he said.

Happiness Eboh, an 18-year-old beneficiary, thanked YEDI for helping her through a difficult time in her life.

She said: “YEDI has done a lot for me in the last two years. During the period of my pregnancy, it was difficult for me to handle the shame.

“With the help of Aunty Chinasa, a YEDI staff who gave me a moral talk and counselling, I was able to stand my ground and face my fears.

“I participated in many of their programmes like the digital skills training, and youth advisory committee training. I am now a youth advocate and mentor to my mates,” she said.

She advised young females facing similar or worse situations to talk to youth-friendly centres, face their fears and change the course of their lives for good.