By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State Government has taken another decisive step toward strengthening community health, development, and child well-being as it deepens its partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to scale Social Behaviour Change (SBC) initiatives across the state.
The renewed collaboration — a major pillar in Governor Ademola Adeleke’s people-centered development agenda — aims to ensure that verified, impactful, and culturally relevant behaviour-change messages reach families in every community, from the cities to the most remote villages.
This commitment was the focus of a two-day capacity-building workshop for the Osun State SBC Committee, held in Osogbo and organised by the Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment in collaboration with UNICEF.
Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, represented by Mr. Raphael Ojo, described the training as a critical step in strengthening grassroots development.
According to him, meaningful change can only happen when citizens understand, embrace, and internalize messages that promote healthy living, safety, and positive social practices.
“No nation can achieve true development without sensitising its people,” he said.
“Behavioural change must begin at the community level if we want long-lasting impact.”
He commended UNICEF and other development partners for their steadfast support, urging participants to take the knowledge back home where it matters most — the communities where children grow, families thrive, and habits are formed.
In goodwill messages, representatives of UNICEF, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), SUBEB, Value Reorientation for Community Enhancement, and the Iyaloja General of Osun State all emphasized a single truth: SBC is a shared responsibility.
They charged participants to be ambassadors of child development and community wellbeing, stressing that families depend heavily on accurate information to make informed decisions about health, hygiene, nutrition, education, and safety.
A major highlight of the workshop was the lecture delivered by UNICEF representative Mrs. Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, represented by Alhaja Fatima Shittu Kuranga. She broke down the evolution from Communication for Development (C4D) to the modern Social Behaviour Change (SBC) approach.
She explained that while communication remains central, the focus has shifted to addressing the deeper social, cultural, and environmental factors that influence behaviour.
UNICEF, she noted, has long applied behavioural strategies to advance children’s rights — contributing to landmark achievements such as the eradication of polio in Nigeria.
