The Oyo State Government. in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has convened an advocacy dialogue and capacity-building meeting with the Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, and top officials from Ministries of Information across the Southwest states of Nigeria.
The meeting, a landmark effort to advance children-centered advocacy and effective communication for children’s right actualisation, themed “Scaling Results for Children Through Evidence-Based Social and Behavioural Change,” was held in Lagos State.
It brought together key stakeholders to explore strategic approaches to drive positive social change, promote children’s rights, and advance gender equity through effective communication practices and evidence-based policy alignment.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Rotimi Babalola, in his keynote address, emphasised that success would be measured not just by policies or meetings, but by real outcomes, well-nourished children, access to clean water and protection from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Oyelade said: “The wellbeing of women and children through three fundamental pillars of public health—Nutrition, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Immunisation—are interlinked and vital to the survival, growth, and development of our communities.”
He stressed the need for strategic communication, advocacy, and community engagement on social and behavioral change, advocating that messages must be clear, culturally relevant, and widely disseminated, amplifying grassroots voices and empowering programmes that drive behavioral change.
Oyoelade stated: “I am reminded of the power and responsibility that communication holds in the success of any public health intervention. Our communities can only benefit from nutrition programmes if they are aware of them. Clean water and sanitation will only be effective when people understand and adopt good hygiene practices. Immunisation will only reach its full potential if families trust and accept it.”
He thanked UNICEF for its continued support through technical expertise and resources, urged participants to be bold in ideas, open to collaboration, and relentless in their commitment to service. “Together, we can build a healthier, more resilient future for all,” he concluded.
In his remarks, UNICEF’s Chief of Social and Behaviour Change, Abuja, Kshitiy Joshi, emphasised the urgency of rethinking communication as a tool for transformation, declaring that the world is changing everyday.
He highlighted the importance of data-driven, people-centered communication in shaping public attitudes and behaviors, saying: “We must go beyond awareness to action—addressing deeply rooted norms, influencing behaviors, and ensuring that no child is left behind.”
Joshi further noted that sustainable development for children can not be achieved without the active involvement of ministries of information, who play a critical role in shaping public discourse and influencing societal behaviour at scale.
Address of Welcome
In his address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Oyo State, Mr Rotimi Babalola, represented by Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Bukola Bakare, reiterated the meeting’s goal to improve the wellbeing of women and children and ensure that every child survives, thrives, and grows up in a safe and nurturing environment.
He noted: “Essential family practices are simple yet powerful actions that families can take to improve children’s health, nutrition, and development. From exclusive breastfeeding and hand washing with soap to proper home care for illnesses and timely immunisations, these practices, when consistently adopted, save lives and lay the foundation for a productive and healthy life.”
Representatives of the Southwest states include: the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Osun State, Barrister Kolapo Alimi, and Special Adviser to the Ogun State Govern Media and Communication, Hon. Kayode Akinmade; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Ekiti State, Prince Olusesan Alabi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Mr Olunde Sogunle; and Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Ondo State, Mr Olanrewaju Akarakiri.
In their separate goodwill messages, the representatives commended UNICEF’s strategic role in promoting inclusive communication and policy engagement that prioritised the welfare of children and women.
They described UNICEF as a trusted partner in progress, whose interventions have significantly impacted communities across the region, reaffirming their states’ readiness to partner with UNICEF on future initiatives aimed at improving the lives of children and vulnerable populations in the Southwest.