Expert demands urgent action as hypertension surges among young Nigerians

By Sola Ogundipe

Fresh momentum behind the implementation of Nigeria’s hypertension resolution has reignited calls for urgent action to tackle the growing burden of high blood pressure among young Nigerians, amid warnings from health experts that the condition can no longer be regarded as a disease of old age.

Making the call, a registered dietitian and Founder/Executive Director of the DexaDiet Sustainability Initiative (DSI), Bolanle Dada, said hypertension is increasingly being diagnosed among adolescents and young adults, many of whom are unaware they have the condition.

Dada warned that without early detection and intervention, they face a greater risk of developing heart disease, stroke and kidney failure later in life.

Citing studies conducted across Nigeria showing that hypertension prevalence ranges from one in 12 to about one in three adolescents and young adults in secondary schools, universities, she flagged the trend as a major source of concern, especially with nearly 70 percent of Nigeria’s population below the age of 30.
The steady rise in early-onset hypertension threatens public health and the future workforce and long-term economic development, she warned.
“If hypertension begins affecting people in their 20s and 30s, the consequences extend beyond individual health. It increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and other chronic illnesses that reduce productivity, increase healthcare costs and place additional burdens on families and the health system,” Dada said.
Many university students, she noted, depend on inexpensive processed meals, consume large quantities of energy drinks during examination periods and endure prolonged stress.
As part of efforts to improve awareness, DSI recently wrapped up a two-week digital campaign tagged #PressureCheck, aimed at encouraging young Nigerians to know their blood pressure numbers, understand their risk factors and adopt healthier lifestyles.
Throughout the campaign, the organisation shared daily educational content on blood pressure awareness, nutrition, physical activity, stress management and the importance of early screening across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp communities and its website.
Dada insisted that awareness alone will not be enough to reverse the trend. She called for stronger collaboration among government at all levels, healthcare providers, educational institutions, employers, civil society organisations, researchers and the media.
She also urged policymakers to create healthier food environments, strengthen nutrition education, expand access to preventive healthcare services and support programmes that encourage healthy living among young people.
“Hypertension among young people is no longer an emerging concern. It is a public health challenge that demands urgent attention. Every conversation, every screening, every healthy meal and every informed decision can help prevent unnecessary illness and save lives,” she said.
Her appeal comes as implementation of Nigeria’s hypertension resolution gathers pace. The resolution seeks to strengthen the prevention, early detection and treatment of high blood pressure as part of broader efforts to curb the country’s rising burden of non-communicable diseases.