Gender Equality Fund Project Launches in Lagos with Joint Inception Meeting

The Gender Equality Fund Project officially launched in Lagos State with a Joint Inception Meeting on July 4, 2025 in Lagos,bringing together key stakeholders and the three implementing partner organizations: Sustainable Impact and Development (SID) Initiative, Hall of Care and Good Humanitarian Initiative (HCHI), and Biola Ariyo Youth and Women Foundation (BAYWO).

This pivotal meeting marked the formal commencement of project activities and set the stage for a youth-centered, inclusive approach to advancing gender equality and social justice in the state.

Supported by Y+ Global, with funding from the Global Fund, GSK, and ViiV Healthcare, the project focuses on empowering Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) through capacity building, leadership development, and improved access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

It also incorporates strong advocacy components on HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (HTM).

The initiative prioritizes AGYW from marginalized backgrounds, including those living with HIV, living with disabilities, LBTIQ+ persons, sex workers, AGYW in rural or conflict-affected areas, and young mothers.

The inception meeting served as a collaborative platform for stakeholders to engage with the project’s goals, understand their roles, and explore areas of synergy.

Implementing partners presented their strategies, emphasized the importance of stakeholder involvement, and reinforced the project’s commitment to intersectionality and inclusion.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Elizabeth Talatu Williams, Executive Director of SID Initiative, noted:

“This project is about building the leadership capacity of adolescent girls and young women to advocate and demand for their SRHR. The goal is to reduce the prevalence of HIV, TB, and Malaria among this population in Lagos State. We cannot do this alone, which is why this meeting is critical — it aims to foster long-term collaboration across sectors to achieve the desired impact.”

The meeting featured presentations, a feedback session, and strategic discussions, with each partner organization outlining their planned interventions:

• SID Initiative will lead on AGYW leadership development, advocacy campaigns, policy engagement, and media amplification.
• HCHI will focus on expanding access to youth-friendly health services in underserved communities, peer navigator training, and stigma reduction.
• BAYWO will implement both community-based and digital advocacy in Agege LGA, supported by policy engagement and peer-led outreach efforts.

During the stakeholder engagement session, Mrs. Abiola Ajani-Ariyo, Executive Director of BAYWO, emphasized the need for training healthcare providers to deliver youth-friendly services, highlighting persistent access gaps in Lagos.

She called for sustained collaboration and support from stakeholders in executing planned activities.

Also, Mrs. Stella Nwokolo, Executive Director of HCHI, appealed to stakeholders to be responsive to advocacy engagements and to open spaces for program participants to engage in high-level decision-making forums such as Technical Working Groups (TWGs) on HIV, TB, and Malaria.

Key stakeholders in attendance included government representatives such as the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH), Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, the TB Network, Civil Society on Malaria, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN), civil society groups, youth networks, and the media.

Several stakeholderspraised the project’s inclusive design and expressed their readiness to contribute through policy support, referrals, and awareness campaigns.

The event concluded with a resounding call to action and a collective commitment to strengthening the health, rights, and leadership of adolescent girls and young women across Lagos State.