By Onyinye Oranezi, Nigeria Health Watch

At the ongoing National Family Planning Conference 2024 (#NFPC2024), the conversation is shifting. While family planning has traditionally been viewed as a women’s issue, speakers at a parallel session led by the Society for Family Health Nigeria made it clear: men are the missing link.

Why Are Family Planning Efforts Stagnating?
Despite national and global efforts, the uptake of family planning services in Nigeria remains slow. Socio-cultural and religious barriers continue to stand in the way of progress. At the session, the speakers didn't shy away from the hard truth: family planning in Nigeria is often resisted by men, who typically hold the final say in household decisions.

This resistance isn’t merely about access to services—it’s about perception and mindset. For many men, family planning is seen as unnecessary or even as a threat to cultural and religious values. This is a key challenge. If men, who act as gatekeepers in their homes, remain resistant, how can we expect widespread adoption of family planning practices?

Engaging Men: A Path Forward
The panellists stressed that one of the most effective ways to break through these barriers is by actively involving men in the conversation. But how do we do that?

It’s not just about holding more discussions or distributing more contraceptives. It’s about changing the narrative. The speakers pointed to community-level education, culturally sensitive campaigns, and targeted outreach programmes as ways to open the door to these conversations. More importantly, it’s about helping men see family planning not as something that undermines their role, but as a tool that can strengthen the health and future of their families.

Shared Responsibility: Building a Partnership Between Men and Women
Family planning needs to be a shared responsibility. While the burden has too often fallen solely on women, the speakers emphasised the importance of fostering partnerships between men and women. As one speaker put it, “We must educate men and encourage them to be champions of family planning, not opponents.”

Male sensitisation programmes could be a game-changer, with the potential to reshape attitudes and remove cultural barriers. This approach could drive more men to support their partners, creating a ripple effect that improves family health outcomes and community wellbeing.

A Final Thought: What Role Will Men Play?
As we look towards Nigeria’s family planning targets for 2030, one key question remains: How can we ensure men are not only part of the conversation but active participants in driving progress?

For many community health advocates, the answer lies in partnership. Engaging men isn’t just an option—it’s essential. As the session concluded, it was clear that achieving the 2030 goals will require not just policy changes, but a cultural shift that places men alongside women in the fight for better reproductive health.

Stay tuned for more community-driven, community-inspired reporting from the 8th Nigerian Family Planning Conference, taking place December 3–6, 2024.