Adolescent Health and Information Projects (AHIP)

AHIP, a youth-focused non-governmental organization was established in 1989 as a youth club and commenced program implementation in 1992.  Its major focus areas are health, social and economic issues related to young people and women.  As one of the pioneering organizations on youth development in the Northern part of Nigeria, it has successfully partnered with international and national development agencies, government at national, state and local levels, and also traditional community-based organizations and other stakeholders to establish functional in and out of school youth programs, including  sexuality education and comprehensive youth centres/services. Over the last 20 years AHIP have worked relentlessly to  break the culture of silence; create enabling environment for  reproductive health, expanded the scope for young people’s health and development, promoted Leadership for Integrated Reproductive Health, Service Delivery and Peaceful Co-existence in Northern Nigeria. The innovative approach of including religious and traditional leaders in the struggle to promote and improve reproductive health situation in Northern Nigeria, especially among women and young people, is a major breakthrough in northern Nigeria. AHIP’s projects are focused on 12 states of Northern Nigeria, but have partners in all other states of Nigeria. The target groups include young people both in and out-of-school, women of reproductive age and men, leaders from Governmental and NGOs, Mentoring of NGO/CBO/FBO, media practitioners, traditional and religious leaders, health providers, faith and community based organisations and Non Formal Structures. Key strategies in this project include service delivery through establishment and/or upgrading/improving of community-based Reproductive Health facilities (most of which already exist), training and education of key actors, community outreaches through mobilisations, advocacy and sports, IEC & BCC, community organising, networking, tri-media (radio, television and print) campaign and People living with HIV/AIDS. We also have  been managing 5 multi-trade vocational centres in three states (Bauchi, Jigawa and Kano) in  northern Nigeria  targeting the educationally deprived and economically disadvantaged young people and women.  In the same vein, AHIP has a community-based women development program that promotes economic and health empowerment. A major outreach effort of the organization is the promotion of information and education through its basketball and football teams that engages in competition with other teams locally and nation-wide. The pioneering effort of AHIP in youth development programming in Northern Nigeria has led to its leadership to be actively involved in a number of national Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) planning; working groups; networking  or committees.  These include, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH)-appointed Implementation Committees such as  the National working Group for the Advancement of Adolescent Health and Development(ARHD); National working group for Reproductive Health Policy; Member National committee for promoting Health Promotion Policy;   Africa Alive (AA) – A national coalition of NGOs for the Prevention and control of HIV/AIDS amongst the adolescents; Member Youth Network on HIV/AIDS, Population and Development in Nigeria(NYNETHA); Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All(CSACEFA);  Civil Society for HIV & AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN). Vision Empowerment of young people and women in Northern Nigeria for improved quality of Life. Mission AHIP is committed to provide young people and women in northern Nigeria with information, knowledge and life skills, to enable them make responsible decision on their health and well-being; working and partnering with other stakeholders. Core Values Empowerment and Mutual Respect Strategies Individual and Institutional Capacity Building Advocacy  Service Delivery Public Enlightenment Capacity Building and Peace Building Mentoring Monitoring and Evaluation