The Centre for Gender, Women and Children in Sustainable Development conducted a one-day training in Osun aimed at strengthening community-level capacities to prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV). This initiative is part of broader environmental and social safeguard efforts related to the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project. Participants included local stakeholders, educators, and community representatives, highlighting the collaborative approach to tackling GBV in the region.

The training took place at the Progressive Cooperative Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, and gathered individuals involved in the initiative, including staff from the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), various contractors, and community focal points from surrounding rural areas. The event emphasized a multi-faceted partnership to address the complexities of gender-based violence and its associated issues of sexual exploitation and abuse.

In her keynote address, Prof Olabisi Aina, the Executive Director of the CGWCSD, pointed out the crucial need for safeguarding protocols in all development projects. By embedding these measures into ongoing initiatives, the program aims to create a safer environment for vulnerable populations and ensure that preventive education reaches the grassroots level, ultimately fostering a more resilient community response to gender-based violence in Osun.