University of Lagos students now have a discreet, digital route to free contraceptives and other reproductive health support. GoMed Nigeria launched the new self-care platform this week. The company partnered with the United Nations Population Fund and the Lagos State Government to make it happen.
The initiative tackles a real problem. Many young Nigerians struggle to access sexual and reproductive health services. Cost gets in the way. So does distance. Many students also fear judgmental stares. Others worry that their privacy will not be respected.
These barriers have consequences. They often push young people toward unsafe choices. As a result, unintended pregnancies remain common. So do unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections. Sadly, these outcomes often come at the expense of a student’s education.
So how does the platform help? UniLag students can now access free contraceptives and other reproductive health commodities. The Lagos State Ministry of Health and UNFPA supply these products. The service also offers discounted health products.
Even better, it includes discreet delivery. Products go straight to campus and student hostels. This means students no longer need to walk into a pharmacy or clinic. They can skip the risk of being recognized or questioned.
The platform does not stop at product delivery, though. Students can also tap into UNFPA’s SoftLife 247 and U-Plan platforms. These offer reliable sexual and reproductive health information. Through U-Plan, students can chat directly with qualified family planning service providers. This gives them a safe way to ask questions they might feel too embarrassed to raise in person.
For extra support, GoMed’s registered pharmacists are also available. They guide students on medicines and other health products. Importantly, this support stays confidential and judgment-free.
Speaking on the launch, GoMed Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Edeki, explained the thinking behind the platform. He said it was built to bring trusted support closer to students. At the same time, it protects their privacy. According to him, cost, distance and fear of judgement should never stand between young people and reliable health information.
Research backs up the urgency of this intervention. A 2025 study, published in the African Journal of Stability and Development, looked at female students at a Nigerian tertiary institution. It found that stigma, financial constraints, long waiting times and confidentiality concerns keep service use low on Nigerian campuses. This pattern is not unique to one school, though. It mirrors a wider trend across Nigeria and the region. Young people here report some of the highest rates of unintended pregnancy in the world. Unmet demand for contraception remains high, too.
For UNFPA and the Lagos State Government, this partnership addresses a specific challenge. Experts call it the “last mile” gap in family planning. Free contraceptives have existed within the public health system for years. Still, uptake among students has remained low. This digital platform tries to change that. It meets students where they already are: online, on their phones, and right there on campus.
For now, the initiative covers UniLag students only. However, this positions the university as a pilot ground. The model could later expand to other tertiary institutions in Lagos State and beyond. Much will depend on how the rollout performs.
Either way, students within the university community already have something new. They now have a more private way to protect their health. And they no longer have to face the barriers that once stood in the way.
