HIV/AIDS: PHALGA Emerges Winner In Adokit Competition

Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA) has emerged winner of this year’s Adolescent Kids for Innovation and Expression(Adokit) Competition in Rivers State organised for adolescents.
PHALGA came tops by beating rivals, Obio/Akpor LGA by a total of 231.9 points to Obio/Akpor’s 208.3 points at the close of the competition

The points were scored in five categories of the competition in which PHALGA won in all but in “Community Action”, where Obio/Akpor recorded 47.3 points, as against 46 points PHALGA garnered.
In the other four categories, PHALGA won, most of which was with slim margins: Drama (50 – 48); Quiz (47.3 – 46); Speak Out (44.3 – 43); and Adokit Creativity/Skills Art Expos (48.3 – 44).

The competition, which is aimed at preparing the adolescents in society for leadership positions in later years, is an intervention with support from UNICEF in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and Young People Living with HIV/AIDs (APIN).
In an interview during the event, UNICEF National Master Trainer for the Adokit Programme, Mr Opeyemi Yekini, said the focus is on adolescents because they are the set of people commonly neglected in society.

“Oftentimes, programmes are being designed for only two categories of people: children and others. That age (adolescent) is often neglected or overlooked.
“That’s why UNICEF reasoned that this age (9 – 19 years) is a transition period, and that if you don’t take care of them very well, you may not be able to control their attitude formed at that level”, he said.
He stated that at this pilot stage, it is limited to only PHALGA and Obio/Akpor.
Mr. Yekini stated that in order to achieve generation no infection, Adokits also targeted both the general pupolation and Young People Living with HIV/AIDs (APIN).
According to him, “we want those general population to remain negative. Those that are born with the virus to also understand that adherence to drugs is also very important”.
Speaking further on the programme, the Senior Programme Officer, Rivers State Agency for the Control of AIDS (RIVSACA), Mr. Stanley Wowo, said the aim of Adokit is to develop the innate potentials of the adolescents in society.
“Adokit, which stands for Adolescent Kids for Innovation and Expression, came as an initiative of UNICEF to further build our adolescents to become future leaders who have the capacities, competence, and abilities to change the narrative at the adolescent stage in Nigeria.
“We are building them to take over the leadership right from their homes”, he said.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Titilola Cline, expressed appreciation to UNICEF and RIVSACA for the programme, and assured on the State Government’s support.
“The Rivers State Government will do everything possible to extend the Adokit Programme to other LGAs”, she said.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo