The organisation said Nigeria’s response to HIV must extend beyond medical interventions to tackle the social and economic challenges that undermine girls’ ability to protect their health, complete their education and make informed decisions about their futures.
Steve Aborisade, AHF’s Advocacy and Marketing Manager, said empowering girls through education, economic opportunities, menstrual health services and leadership development was essential to reducing their vulnerability to HIV.
Adolescent girls and young women aged 15 to 24 are up to two to three times more likely to acquire HIV than their male counterparts of the same age, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the need for targeted prevention programmes that address the factors driving the disparity.
Aborisade maintained that interventions focused solely on healthcare would not adequately address the circumstances that leave many girls vulnerable, insisting that socioeconomic empowerment must form a central part of Nigeria’s HIV prevention strategy.
A programme built around girls’ needs
The Girls Act initiative, launched by AHF in 2016 under the principle, “For Girls, By Girls,” was designed to help girls overcome barriers to healthcare, education and economic independence.
According to the organisation, the programme has expanded from five countries to nearly 40 across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
As of 2026, the initiative had engaged more than 4,500 girls and distributed over one million sanitary pads, reflecting its emphasis on menstrual health, education and practical support.
The programme seeks to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, support girls living with HIV to remain on treatment, reduce unplanned pregnancies and help girls stay in school.
AHF believes that addressing these interconnected challenges can give girls greater control over their health and improve their prospects for education, employment and participation in community development.
Poverty and gender inequality heighten vulnerability
Aborisade said economic hardship and gender inequality could limit girls’ ability to make informed decisions about their health and sexuality, particularly when they depend financially on other people or lack access to essential services.
He explained that girls who cannot afford menstrual products, have dropped out of school or lack independent sources of income may face additional obstacles to protecting themselves from HIV and other infections.
A lack of financial independence can also reduce their ability to negotiate safer sex, access healthcare and resist situations that put their health and well-being at risk.
Girls Act therefore combines health education and treatment support with menstrual health services, vocational training and leadership development. The approach is intended to address both immediate health needs and the underlying social conditions that can increase vulnerability.
Aborisade said such interventions were necessary to ensure that girls were not only informed about HIV prevention but also equipped with the resources and opportunities to act on that knowledge.
Vocational training promotes financial independence
In Nigeria, the initiative has introduced practical skills training to help participants develop income-generating opportunities and improve their financial independence.
In Abuja and Benue State, girls have received training in tie-dye production, bead-making, tote-bag production and snack-making.
The training is intended to equip participants with practical skills that can help them earn a living, reduce financial dependence and build confidence in their ability to make decisions about their futures.
Aborisade said the programme also supports out-of-school girls who wish to return to education. For those unable to travel to conventional training centres, vocational activities are taken directly into their communities to improve access.
The approach recognises that girls face different circumstances and that effective interventions must reach those who are often excluded from formal education and development opportunities.
Beyond vocational training, the programme promotes mentorship, advocacy and leadership skills, while involving boys in efforts to improve understanding of girls’ rights and strengthen their protection.
AHF maintains that engaging boys is important in building more supportive environments in which girls can pursue education, access healthcare and participate in decisions affecting their lives.
International partnerships expand opportunities
Girls Act has also established partnerships in other countries to broaden the opportunities available to participants.
In South Africa, the programme has partnered with the Artisan Development Academy to expose girls to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as skilled trades. It has also worked with a local bakery to provide baking training for 15 adolescent girls.
In Uganda, the initiative has collaborated with the Youth Prevention Programme on entrepreneurship training, helping participants explore opportunities for economic independence.
In Nigeria, AHF is implementing a leadership academy in partnership with Education as a Vaccine, an organisation focused on advancing the rights and well-being of children and young people.
These partnerships reflect the programme’s broader strategy of combining health awareness with skills acquisition, mentorship and leadership opportunities to help girls overcome social and economic barriers.
Personal experiences underscore the programme’s impact
Aborisade cited the experience of Ruvarashe, a Girls Act member in Zimbabwe, who said the initiative had helped her develop a stronger sense of self-worth and remain in school.
Her experience, he noted, illustrates the importance of programmes that provide girls with encouragement, practical support and opportunities to continue their education despite difficult circumstances.
AHF argues that keeping girls in school and strengthening their confidence can contribute to better health outcomes by improving their access to information, expanding their future economic prospects and helping them make informed choices.
The organisation is urging Nigerian authorities to integrate the Girls Act model into national and state HIV response strategies, education policies and youth development plans, with dedicated budgetary allocations to ensure continuity and wider coverage.
AHF demands dedicated funding for expansion
Aborisade said government support should cover menstrual health products, vocational training, start-up assistance, school retention and re-entry programmes, leadership opportunities, and access to HIV testing, treatment and care.
He warned that neglecting prevention and the socioeconomic factors driving vulnerability could result in more new infections, higher long-term treatment costs, interrupted education and lost productivity.
He stressed that investing in girls’ health, education and economic empowerment should be regarded as an essential component of the country's wider development agenda rather than a standalone social intervention.
According to him, government agencies, development partners, civil society organisations and community leaders must work together to ensure that adolescent girls and young women can access the services and opportunities required to protect their health and build sustainable futures.
Aborisade called for stronger political commitment and financial investment, urging authorities to move from recognising the challenges facing girls to implementing adequately funded interventions.
“Government should adopt the Girls Act, fund it, and scale it up,” he said.
He stressed the need to raise a generation of Nigerian girls who are informed, independent and protected from HIV, adding that sustained investment in their well-being would help strengthen the country's broader efforts to prevent new infections and improve public health outcomes.