Nigeria's Adolescent Crisis: A Systemic Failure, Says Expert

During the 140th Inaugural Lecture at the University of Uyo, Professor Sunday Bassey Udoh, a Professor of Family Medicine, stated that Nigeria's adolescent crisis is a systemic failure involving multiple societal components, including family, school, community, healthcare, and the state. He emphasized that the crisis is exacerbated by weakening family structures, declining authority of traditional institutions, peer pressure, social media, poverty, substance abuse, insecurity, and inadequate access to adolescent-friendly health services.

Udoh noted that adolescents, aged 10 to 19, are particularly vulnerable due to neurobiological imbalances affecting their judgment and impulse control. He described Nigeria as experiencing "normlessness," where traditional values are weakened without suitable replacements, leading to various adolescent crises such as identity confusion, mental health challenges, and early sexual activity.

His research over two decades has focused on the causes and risk factors associated with adolescent crises, particularly in reproductive health, substance use, and mental health.