Publications - Better Life Options Program Final Report

Better Life Options Program Final Report

Better Life Options Program Final Report Nigeria is one of the most populous countries in Africa with a population of over 154 million inhabitants. While 73 percent of Nigerian males are literate, less than half (48 percent) of their female counterparts can read and write. In the Southern region of Nigeria, 21 percent of females and 19 percent of males have never attended primary school. Nigeria has the second-highest number of HIV/AIDS infections in the world, surpassed only by South Africa. Although Akwa Ibom state in the southern region of Nigeria has the second highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the country, 92 percent of those living in the region believed they had no risk of contracting HIV and many were unaware of appropriate methods to prevent the infection.

Given the education and health challenges in southern Nigeria, it is evident that a participatory approach is needed to encourage youth to return (or enroll for the first time) to school, communicate with parents about common health issues, and gain greater awareness of reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. CEDPA was awarded a two-year grant by ExxonMobil to strengthen the Better Life Options project in Nigeria. The project was a follow-on to the ExxonMobil Foundation grant for the pilot phase of the project, which was designed to improve the education, health and quality of life of Nigerian youth in Akwa Ibom State. The goal of the follow-on project was the create a sustainable Better Life Options program in Akwa Ibom State to reach girls and boys at educational risk and encourage them to return to formal or vocational school.