TAConnect provided strategic technical assistance to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoH&SW) for the successful finalization and validation of Nigeria’s National Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Policy, marking a significant step toward strengthening the country’s reproductive health framework. The five-day stakeholder meeting, held from 2–6 March 2026 in Kano state, brought together key actors from government, regulatory bodies, development partners, and civil society to review and refine the policy document.
The meeting was formally opened by the Kano State Honourable Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, who commended the Federal Ministry and its partners for prioritizing a comprehensive and responsive SRH policy. He highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration across federal and state institutions, alongside partners, in addressing reproductive health challenges and improving outcomes nationwide. Participants included representatives from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, State Ministries of Health, and partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), among others.
Through a series of technical sessions and working discussions, stakeholders conducted a detailed review of the policy to ensure it reflects national priorities, aligns with global commitments, and responds to the needs of women, adolescents, and vulnerable populations. Attention was given to strengthening access to quality services, promoting equity, and ensuring alignment with existing legal frameworks. Deliberations also addressed the issue of age of consent for accessing reproductive health services, with consensus that any revisions must follow established legislative processes while safeguarding public health priorities.
At the close of the meeting, stakeholders agreed on key revisions, resulting in a validated policy that reflects broad technical input and national ownership. In her closing remarks, Prof. Hadiza Galadanci of ACEPHAP described the validation as an important milestone for advancing reproductive health outcomes and emphasized the need for continued collaboration to ensure effective implementation. With the validation completed, the policy will proceed to final approvals and subsequent rollout to guide reproductive health programming across Nigeria, reinforcing efforts to improve access to quality services and strengthen health system performance.
