Born to Wait: What One Art Piece Reveals about the Challenges of Adolescent SRHR in Nigeria

Written by: Idoko Philip & Bernard Otu Assim-ita

At the 78th World Health Assembly (#WHA78), amidst policy dialogues and diplomatic speeches, the A Seat at the Table side event offered something different: a space where art met advocacy to spotlight the real people behind global health goals. Through bold, community-driven visual works, the event celebrated the power of #PeopleCenteredCare—especially when shaped by those most affected.

As part of this exhibition through an extended invitation from Frontline Aids, Education as a Vaccine (EVA) unveiled Born to Wait: A Journey Through Barriers, this wasn’t just a piece of art. It was a call to action. Spotlighting how structural barriers prevent young people in Nigeria from accessing the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services they need. Through a symbolic dinner setting divided into three life stages—infancy, childhood, and adolescence—the work captures the slow erosion of young people’s right to health.At each stage, everyday objects tell a painful story: a broken crayon, a padlocked spoon, a sealed HIV test. At the center lies a laminated birth certificate—proof that systems recognize young people’s existence, yet delay or deny their access to care.

But Born to Wait reflects the real experiences of millions of Nigerian adolescents, especially young women and girls. Nigeria’s adolescent fertility rate is around 86 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19, and only about 25% of adolescents who need SRH services actually access them. According to Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) 2018, only about 38% of adolescents aged 15-24 had ever tested for HIV, highlighting significant gaps in access and awareness.  Policy barriers, stigma, and reduced funding make it harder for young people to get the care they need. 

In recent years, international funding for SRHR programming in Nigeria has declined, leaving already fragile systems under-resourced and this is even more heavily impacted with the recent US funding freeze. For adolescent girls and young women, this doesn’t just mean fewer clinics or programs—it means more unplanned pregnancies, untreated infections, and lives lost to preventable diseases.

At EVA, we have seen firsthand how age-of-consent laws and underfunded health systems compound the crisis. Our work with young people across Nigeria continues to reveal a common theme: access delayed is access denied. Programs once supported by external donors have been scaled back or discontinued, even as demand continues to grow. Adolescents seeking HIV self-testing or long-acting PrEP are turned away because they are “too young,” regardless of their actual risk or needs. Community mobilization, once a strong pillar of SRHR advocacy, is now struggling under the weight of budget cuts and policy inaction.

Given these challenges Born to Wait challenges us to act—not just with empathy but with urgency. We need:

• Policy reform to lower the age of consent for accessing SRH services.
• Sustained, flexible funding that centers young people’s needs and leadership.
• Community-driven solutions that reflect the realities and diversity of adolescents, especially those in rural, underserved, and marginalized communities.

At EVA, we continue to work with ,young people, health workers, and policymakers to create more equitable systems. Because the cost of delay is not abstract—it’s personal, measurable, and deadly.

As the art reminds us, young people are not just subjects of care. They are leaders, decision-makers, and change agents. And they deserve access on their own terms.