Advocacy visit to Gbara community leader and stakeholders
Introduction
Dr. Perpetua Mbanefo chose Community Health Information Education Forum (CHIEF) for her practicum which started on the 1st December 2014. Included in the CHIEF designed curriculum for her practicum was to plan and conduct advocacy visits to community stakeholders. Therefore it was suggested that an advocacy team be set up, plan and conduct mapping of the community, stakeholders and conduct the advocacy visit. To this effect, a brief meeting held on Friday 9th, January 2015, discussions centred on prospects for the new year, organization and project sustainability. The meeting was also an opportunity to introduce Dr. Perpetua Mbanefo and her mission to staff and in essence draw the community mapping of stakeholders to be visited.
Another reason for the visit was also to introduce Dr. Perpetua Mbanefo to the community leaders; whose six months practicum with CHIEF started last December and geared towards an award of Masters of Public Health degree from the Walden University, USA.
Also to raise awareness of the community on Indigenous Youth and Women access to ICT project embarked by CHIEF with support from Youth Empowerment &ICT Foundation. And to intimate the Community Leaders and other stakeholders with CHIEF and Dr. Mbanefo planned activities for the quarter;
- Meeting the Needs of Adolescent Girls Using Research
- Develop and Implement programs that Improve Girls’ lives
- Other planned activity on ‘Conflict, Management, Resolution and Peace Building
Narrative of Advocacy conducted
The palace of the Gbara community leader was the first point of call. The CEO introduced the Advocacy team, Wale Jimoh and Dr. Perpetua Mbanefo to the Baale; Chief Mudashiru Goriola Lawal. In her speech, Remi Akinmade thanked the Baale for support and long term relationships established and also wished the Baale a Happy and Peaceful New Year. She proceeded to brief him on various proposed plans of activities by the organization in collaboration with Dr. Perpetua Mbanefo, and it was also an opportunity to introduce Dr. Perpetua Mbanefo as the key contact for the planned activities in compliance and fulfilment to her practicum as specified by Walden University, USA with CHIEF.
As earlier highlighted; Needs of Adolescent Girls Using Research to Develop and Implement Programs that Improve Girls’ lives would be carried out at a specified date and another activity would be planned on ‘Conflict Management, Resolution and Peace Building’ and especially to address issues of violence during election campaigns as campaigns are currently on-going coupled with reported incidence of violence in Gbara and its environs that claimed the life of Baale’s son. The Baale in his response appreciated the advocacy team and gave his full support for the laudable programs.
He promised to mobilize the youths for the programs whenever the organization is ready.
The advocacy team also visited the Gbara Community Schools’ Complex. The CEO and her team were accorded warm welcome by Mrs Adenike Fashola, the Principal Gbara Community Junior Secondary School. The CEO briefed her on the purpose of the team visit, introduced Dr. Mbanefo and her intended practicum which might involve skills building on Family Life Education, Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) and other youth focused activities among In-School-Youths and also sought support for Dr. Mbanefo activities in the Schools’ Complex and also how the school students can access and benefit from CHIEF ICT Centre. The principal in her remarks was glad the team embarked on the visit while she promised her support for the highlighted activities.
She however advised the team to inform her early enough before start of program activities and she implored the team not to take students pictures as it is against the Lagos State Government policy.
The advocacy team also met with Mr Ayantunji A.S. the Director of Education, Lagos State Ministry of Education District III who doubled as the principal of Gbara Community Senior Secondary School. The meeting was however brief but the CEO and her team was able to pass the information and communicate to him the mission of the team, he said he has supported CHIEF program in the past sending students to one of their programs, while he requested for a re-scheduled meeting he was on his way out of the Schools’ Complex for an official assignment.
Other schools visited within the ‘Schools’ Complex’ by the team was the office of the Headmistress of Maiyegun Community Primary School. Mrs Oyeyipo F. I. the headmistress also appreciated the team’s visit and committed her support while she advised the organization not to be too far from the school. She enjoined the team to always carry the school along in all its youth programming.
The team also visited the community women leader and few small scale enterprises.
Result
Five men and five women were seen during the community advocacy visit. Support of secondary stakeholders was enlisted. 10 advocacy kits on Access of Indigenous Women and Youths to ICT were distributed. The main reason for advocacy, Dr. Perpetua Mbanefo was able to study how advocacy visits are planned, implemented and evaluated.
Success
All planned to be visited were met and support enlisted.