[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Young and innovative Nigerians were gathered at the Civic Innovation Lab, Abuja, graced by the presence of the UN Secretary General’s Youth Envoy, Jayathma Wickramanayake, to participate in a pitch exhibition by social innovators. Education as a Vaccine was part of the occasion.
Itamah Osagie, EVA’s Programme Officer making presentation at Civic Innovation Lab on 9th February 2018
EVA’s Program Officer for the EMAPS’ project, Osagie Itamah, spoke on the technology tools EVA developed in partnership with adolescents and young people. In response to their needs, EVA recently launched three apps to empower adolescents and young people in Nigeria and increase access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, access SRH services at youth-friendly centers, as well as monitor women’s menstrual cycle using Frisky, LinkUp and DIVA apps, respectively.
Explaining the rationale behind the emergence of the three mobile applications, Itamah said, “…the mobile applications were developed to encourage the information seeking behavior among young people, while providing access to accurate and non-judgemental responses to SRHR issues in order to reduce high-risk behaviors that may lead to HIV, STIs, unplanned pregnancies and complications from unsafe abortion.”
In a related manner, the founder of Stand to End Rape, Ayodeji Osowobi, presented a Google-enabled app created to give young girls a tool for safety. According to her, “…if something happens, with a click of a button, a message is sent to family members with a call for help and their location.”
Other social innovators who presented their ideas were Uche Chuta of Campaign Nigeria, and David Arinze, who developed a solar-powered tricycle.
Jayathma Wickramanayake’s Picture at the Civic Innovation Lab on 9th February, 2018
Excited by the ideas of utilizing creative solutions with technologies and creating partnerships to address social issues like education and SRHR across different parts of the country, the Youth Envoy applauded the efforts being made by Nigerian youths, while urging the Civic Innovation Lab to continue to be a space that accommodates and promotes capacity building and the development of new skills in the country.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]