Osun, UNICEF partner to deepen social behaviour change across communities

 Sunday Okunade

The Osun State Government has strengthened its partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to enhance Social Behaviour Change (SBC) initiatives across the state. The collaboration, driven by the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke, aims to ensure that accurate and impactful behavioural change messages reach every part of the state.

This commitment was reiterated at the opening of a two-day capacity-building workshop for the Osun State SBC Committee. The programme, organised by the Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment in collaboration with UNICEF, was held in Osogbo, the state capital. Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, represented by Mr. Raphael Ojo, described the workshop as crucial to promoting behaviour change, especially at the grassroots.

The Commissioner commended UNICEF and other development partners for their sustained support towards driving behavioural change. He urged participants to take the knowledge gained to their respective communities, noting that the well-being and development of children depend largely on the actions and awareness of community members.

He further emphasised that no nation can achieve meaningful development without sensitising its people on healthy living and community-driven growth. According to him, behavioural change must stem from the community level for long-term impact.

In their goodwill messages, representatives from UNICEF, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), SUBEB, Value Reorientation for Community Enhancement, and the Iyaloja General of Osun State all charged participants to take the programme seriously. They stressed the need to collectively promote child development and prioritise community well-being.

Delivering her lectures, UNICEF representative Mrs. Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, represented by Alhaja Fatima Shittu Kuranga, explained the global shift from Communication for Development (C4D) to SBC. She noted that UNICEF has consistently applied effective communication strategies to advance children’s rights, contributing to major achievements such as the eradication of polio in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

She highlighted key tools used in the C4D approach, including advocacy, community engagement, social mobilisation, and edutainment, while outlining lessons learned over the years. These include the reality that knowledge alone does not change behaviour and that communities must be seen as partners rather than mere beneficiaries.

Mrs. Akinola-Akinwole also introduced participants to the concept of gamification, explaining how game-like strategies can be used to motivate participation and enhance programme outcomes. She encouraged individuals and families to prioritise healthy living by eating nutritious food, drinking safe water, and ensuring adequate breastfeeding for infants.

Another facilitator, Mr. Gideon Adegboye, lectured on effectively sharing C4D success stories within SBC frameworks using the STARL model. He described the model as a simple and organised storytelling approach that helps provide solutions to emerging challenges.

The workshop ended with group exercises, where participants were divided into four groups to design SBC strategies for specific behaviours using various communication techniques. The session strengthened the participants’ practical understanding of implementing social behaviour change interventions across Osun State.