With nearly 1 in 8 girls aged 15–19 in Kaduna State already mothers—largely due to early marriage—the State Ministry of Health is taking proactive steps to address this by strengthening institutional collaboration with strategic partners.

Last week in Zaria, our Kaduna State Service Delivery Project (KSSDP) team joined a policy dialogue aimed at advancing a bold, sustainable agenda for Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Development (AYSRH&D) in the state. Convened by the Society for Family Health (SFH) in partnership with the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) and the State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB), the event provided a platform to reflect on the A360 project’s progress, share lessons learned, and explore pathways for government ownership and integration of ASRH into state systems.

Key insights included the need to institutionalize A360/MMA, strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration, and use data-driven advocacy for sustainable integration. The Permanent Secretary of the SMOH emphasized the need for shared responsibility among health workers, political and traditional leaders, youth, and implementing partners to deliver coordinated, adolescent-responsive services.

The dialogue lays the foundation for a youth-centered, state-led ASRH agenda aligned with Kaduna State’s broader health and development priorities. Moving forward, we will continue to prioritize human-centered, scalable service design to support practical planning and leverage data-driven resource mobilization to strengthen the health system across the state.