The picture of the week

State of World Population 2024, Abuja, Nigeria

Onyinye Edeh - School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

2024-08-28

The regional launch of the State of World Population (SWOP) 2024 courtesy of the Federal Government of Nigeria and UNFPA - UNFPA Nigeria, live from the Presidential Villa.

I enjoyed being re-inspired about the possibilities for ending inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights, reconnecting with mentors and colleagues who have shaped my adolescent health journey and being reminded that young transformational and articulate leaders are needed now more than ever to take the charge in achieving sustainable global development.

While commendable progress has been made in health and wellbeing since the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), too many individuals and communities are still being left behind.

As Dr. Kanem writes in the Foreword of the report, “the fabric of humanity is rich and beautiful, a tapestry composed of 8 billion threads and counting, each one of us unique. Our resilience comes not from any individual strand but emanates from the collective, interwoven whole. That is our strength, and it is how we will proceed and succeed - by working together.”

We all have a role to play, and it starts with you reading the latest SWOP.

Shout out to the ever ready Seyi Bolaji for representing the young people of Nigeria excellently!