The Centre for Gender, Women and Children in Sustainable Development (CGWCSD), in partnership with the Osun State Government through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) and supported by the World Bank, has successfully carried out a community sensitisation programme on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention in Adejuwon community, Ede North Local Government Area, Osun State.
The engagement, which brought together men, women, youths, children, and persons with disabilities, was aimed at enhancing community understanding of their roles in GBV prevention, awareness creation, and survivor-centred response mechanisms. Participants were trained on referral pathways and survivor support services.
Facilitated by Dr. Yemi Babalola and a team of GBV officers including Ms. Peace Ikujenlola, Ms. Adeola Okunola, Ms. Opeyemi Akinwumi, and Mr. Olayinka Fanawopon, the session equipped peer educators and response teams with practical knowledge to identify, respond to, and prevent GBV incidents. The training drew from key messages in the RAAMP awareness-creation manual, which stresses respect, dignity, breaking the culture of silence, and encouraging survivors to seek help.
Highlights of the event included interactive role-plays, community dialogue sessions, distribution of IEC materials, and open discussions where participants shared experiences. Issues identified ranged from harassment of schoolgirls and female food vendors to the exploitation of women in labour and relief distribution. Cases of underage marriage and male victimisation were also acknowledged.
Speaking after the session, community members expressed appreciation for the training and emphasised the importance of continuous sensitisation. The peer educators pledged to carry the messages forward to their communities.
CGWCSD noted the cooperation of community leaders and stressed the need for constant engagement and monitoring to ensure sustainability. The Centre affirmed that further sensitisation programmes will be extended to surrounding communities along the Osun RAAMP project roads.