Port- Harcourt City Local Government have emerged winners of the just concluded State level grand finale competition for Adolescent Kits, a UNICEF’s sponsored Intervention programme targeting adolescents especially those living with HIV/AIDS in the State and the general populace.
The competition which featured drama, quiz, speak out, creativity and community action ,was a way of building confidence, enhancing creativity and innovation amongst adolescents towards the eradication of HIV/AIDS in the State and Nigeria at large.
Speaking at the event, the Programme Manager, Rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDS, RIVSACA, Dr Francis Nazigga said, the training is a pilot scheme which draws participants from Egede and Nanka communities in PLALGA and Obio/Akpor LGAs of the State, and was carried out in line with the commemoration of this year’s Day of the African Child celebrated every 16th of June and International Youth Day on August 11.
The RIVSACA’S Programme Manager, Dr Francis Nagazzia expressed willingness of his agency to sustain the programme through documentation and monitoring as well as the involvement of key stakeholders to casket the training to others LGAS of the State.
On his part, UINICEF’s National Master Trainer for ADOKIT Programme, Mr Opeyemi Yekini while thanking the State Government for creating the enabling environment for the programme to succeed, noted that, the training have had tremendous impact on adolescents as issues of drug abuse, poor hygiene, teenage pregnancy among others have drastically reduced in the State.
Mr. Opeyemi Yekini appealed to the media to ensure that in their reportage, release and broadcast they have zero tolerance on stigma and discrimination.
Earlier in his goodwill message at the event, the State’s Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibiwari Clapton Ogolo, represented by the Director Administration in the Ministry, Dr Onyeka Ugo Sam, commended RIVSACA for their commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the State and pledged his Ministry’s support to the mitigation of the spread of the epidemic in the State.
Dr Ugo Sam while urging the adolescents to be crusaders in the eradication of the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, asked every citizen and those doing business to partner with the present administration in ensuring that Rivers State remains the best the in the community of States in Nigeria by being their best in whatever they do.
The participants in their various responses expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Government and UNICEF for the training.
