The Ogun State Government through the Ministry of Information and Strategy, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has developed a feasible action plan for coordinated Social Behavioral Change interventions that addresses critical child survival and development issues.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Waheed Adesina, stated this at a two-day capacity-building workshop on Social and Behavioural Change (SBC).
The workshop themed “Deepening the Understanding of SBC Principles for Effective Cross-Sectoral Programming” was
held in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on Wednesday and Thursday.
Declaring the workshop open, Adesina acknowledged UNICEF’s unwavering support, cooperation, knowledge, and resources, pointing out that these efforts continued to be crucial to the common goal of enhancing citizens’ quality of life.
He asserted that the goal of protecting child survival, ensuring holistic development, and ensuring the safety of every mother and child in Ogun State is solely dependent on teamwork and collaboration.
“Our UNICEF partners provide the global framework and technical expertise, while this SBC Committee drives strategic messaging and public engagement. Each of you, as implementers across various sectors, translates these strategies into tangible actions within our communities,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary added that the Social Behavioural Change Committee was a vital link in the chain that could support women and children, contributing to a safer, healthier, and more prosperous future for the State.
According to him, the transition from Communication for Development (C4D) to Social and Behavioural Change (SBC) represents a substantial advancement from only raising awareness to actively comprehending and resolving the complex social, cultural, and psychological elements that shape behaviour.
Earlier in her welcome address, Mrs. Kemi Ewedairo-Yusuf, the Director of Production Services in the Ministry of Information, stated that the ability to successfully influence behaviours and modify social norms is crucial for success in areas like child survival, nutrition, and education.
Also speaking, Mr Michael Oyediji, an SBC consultant, stated that SBC goes beyond communication because it can infiltrate communities by strategically utilising various methods and instruments to support social system and individual change.
Appreciating the State government and UNICEF on behalf of the participants, an officer from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mrs Gloria Ojikutu said the insight and knowledge acquired would help in deploying strategies and approaches in dealing with people and the communities.