The Oyo State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Value Female Network Africa, has launched the Gender Transformative Positive Parenting Programme 1.0 to strengthen child protection and promote safer family environments.
The initiative commenced with a two-day training for community facilitators held on September 2 and 3, 2026, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist at the Lagos Field Office, Denis Onoise, stressed the importance of equipping parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills needed to protect children from violence, abuse and neglect.
Onoise described parents and caregivers as the first line of protection for children, noting that strengthening their capacity would help identify risks early and ensure vulnerable children receive appropriate support.
“Parents and caregivers are the first protective environment around a child. Strengthening their knowledge and capacity means that risks can be recognised earlier, violence can be prevented and children who require support can be connected to appropriate services,” he said.
According to him, positive parenting should not be viewed merely as a method of disciplining children but as a critical component of a functional child protection system.
He explained that the programme was designed to strengthen the protective environment surrounding children by empowering those who interact with them most closely.
Onoise added that parents and caregivers, when properly equipped, could recognise early warning signs of abuse, neglect and other forms of vulnerability and take appropriate steps to protect affected children.
The programme is expected to engage community-level facilitators who will support efforts to promote gender-transformative and non-violent parenting practices across communities in Oyo State.
