Meet Jane Abah
When she first heard about The Next Hundred Public Health Steward (TNH-PHS) Program during her National Youth Service year in 2022, she had no idea how profoundly it would change her life. Introduced to the opportunity by an administrative unit in her Community Development Service (CDS), the program instantly stood out as a platform to learn, serve, and make a meaningful impact.
“I was instantly drawn to it because it aligned with my desire to learn more about public health and community development,” she recalls. “It felt like the perfect chance not just to pursue my passion for change in the health sector but also to actively contribute to meaningful transformation in my community.”
At that point in her life, uncertainty loomed large. Like many young Nigerians completing National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Jane worried about what would come next, especially in a system where opportunities often seem scarce. But discovering TNH reignited her hope and gave her a renewed sense of direction.
“Before joining TNH, I dreaded the future,” she says. “But the orientation session as part of the cohort 6 was incredibly insightful. It opened my eyes to the public health sector and inspired me to dream beyond my limitations.”
During her immersion placement, Jane worked alongside a passionate team at the Vaccine Network for Disease Control (VNDC), passionate about youth development and health equity. The experience was both challenging and rewarding. Coming from a different academic background, she had to adapt to new concepts, terminologies, and systems quickly, yet she thrived through determination and curiosity.
Over three transformative months, Jane gained hands-on experience in community engagement, stakeholder mobilisation, proposal development, and grassroots program delivery. What began as a learning opportunity soon became a journey of unlearning, relearning, and personal growth.
Jane’s inspiration for public health advocacy traces back to a defining childhood moment. She once watched a documentary about a child bride who developed an obstetric fistula after early marriage, a story that left an unforgettable mark on her.
“That story stayed with me and planted the seed for my desire to advocate for vulnerable populations, especially women and girls whose voices are often unheard,” she explains. “Today, I find myself in the development sector, working to champion equity and dignity for those who are voiceless.”
Through TNH-PHS, Jane found more than a network; she found a community of purpose. The training modules, mentorship, and exposure to public health systems became the building blocks of her career journey. Since completing the program, Jane has contributed to several impactful initiatives, including advocating for immunisation funding and raising awareness about gender-based violence, as well as mobilising local communities and engaging gatekeepers in prevention and response efforts. Each milestone, she says, is deeply rooted in the lessons and values she learned through TNH.
Jane’s journey is proof that when young people are equipped, supported, and trusted to lead, they do not just change their own lives; they transform their communities.
