Oyo govt, UNICEF host stakeholders workshop on community engagement and accountability to affected populations

The Oyo State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has organized a strategic capacity-building workshop for stakeholders from the South-West states and Edo State.

The two-day event, held in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, aimed to strengthen community engagement and promote Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).

The workshop brought together government officials, civil society organizations, community leaders, and development partners to promote inclusion, prioritize community feedback, and advance the rights of children.

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Ministry of Information and Orientation, Mr. Rotimi Babalola, praised UNICEF for its consistent support, describing it as a long-standing development partner. He commended the organization’s focus on inclusion through the AAP initiative, which addresses challenges facing marginalized and underserved populations.

“If this group is not planned and programmed for, vulnerability among children and women will increase. This initiative is both timely and important,” Babalola stressed.

He urged participants to treat the orientation as a call to action rather than a routine exercise, emphasizing the need to return to their states and organizations with a renewed commitment to inclusion.

“As representatives of our MDAs and community groups, we must take this knowledge home and advocate for better care and inclusion for women and children. It is a sacrifice we must make for a better society,” he added.

Babalola also encouraged cross-state networking and collaboration to address shared community challenges.
Speaking on Social Behaviour Change and the Shift, Mrs. Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, UNICEF Social Behaviour Change Specialist at the Lagos field office, described Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) as a people-centered approach that relies on community insights and data to design effective, relevant solutions.

“Social and Behaviour Change empowers people to take action and make positive changes in their lives. It’s not just about communication; it’s about involving communities so they can take ownership of their development,” she explained.

She urged participants to adopt SBC strategies to advance children’s rights, stressing that lasting change occurs when communities are active drivers of transformation.

In her presentation, Overview of Accountability to Affected Populations, Ms. Amina Bala, UNICEF SBC Specialist, Abuja, defined AAP as ensuring that the voices and needs of vulnerable groups remain central to all interventions.

“AAP is not just about providing services—it’s about listening to communities, responding to their concerns, and ensuring they have a role in decisions that affect them,” she said.

Ms. Bala emphasized that empowering communities to give feedback builds trust, improves service delivery, and ensures programmes meet real needs. She called on stakeholders to integrate AAP into state policies and programmes, while creating systems for communities to ask questions, submit complaints, and help shape interventions.

The workshop is expected to help participating states develop strategies that enhance accountability, deepen community involvement, and strengthen support for children, women, and other vulnerable groups.
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