Ibadan-The Haven Initiative for Women and Children Development and Safety (HIWCDS) has successfully concluded its CHANGE MAKERS Leadership & Capacity Development Programme held in Ibadan, Oyo State, bringing together Corps Members and young professionals passionate about social impact, safeguarding, advocacy, and community development.
The intensive training programme, organized for participants aged 20 to 30, focused on equipping young people with practical knowledge and leadership skills to drive meaningful change in their communities.
Speaking during the programme, the Executive Director of Haven Initiative/ Certified Child Safeguarding Expert, Mrs. Omotayo Adebayo, emphasized the importance of child safeguarding, gender justice, and protection systems in development work.
She noted that safeguarding must remain central to all interventions involving women and children, stressing that empowerment without protection is incomplete.
Participants were introduced to key concepts such as child safeguarding, protection systems, gender justice, community advocacy, and social impact innovation.
The session also highlighted how young professionals can structure ideas into practical interventions capable of creating measurable impact within their communities.
Facilitator, Mr. Cosmas Olaniyan, spoke extensively on the role of young people within the NGO and development sector, community mobilization strategies, and how advocacy can be transformed into sustainable action.
He encouraged participants to move beyond passion and begin to build structured solutions to social problems affecting vulnerable groups.
One of the major highlights of the programme was the Change Makers Challenge, where participants were grouped to identify pressing societal issues affecting women, children, and young people within their communities and propose practical solutions.
Interestingly, some of the most pressing concerns raised during the challenge came directly from the Corps Members themselves.
Among the germane issues presented were the alleged extortion of Corps Members by accommodation agents in Ibadan, the increasing difficulty in securing decent and affordable accommodation, and the persistent shortage of power supply in many parts of the city.
Participants explained how these challenges continue to affect the welfare, productivity, and overall well-being of Corps Members serving in Oyo State.
Each group selected a representative who presented their observations, concerns, and proposed recommendations on behalf of their teams.
The interactive exercise encouraged critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, and policy-oriented discussions, while also allowing participants to openly discuss real-life issues affecting young people within society.
Many of the Corps Members present described the training as eye-opening and impactful, noting that it exposed them to areas of development work they had little prior knowledge about, particularly child safeguarding, protection systems, and gender justice.
Participants also commended the interactive nature of the sessions and the opportunity to network with professionals and fellow changemakers.
Haven Initiative noted that the programme forms part of its broader commitment to championing safeguarding awareness and strengthening protection systems across Oyo State.
The organization continues to lead conversations around safeguarding, gender justice, youth development, policy advocacy, and community inclusion through trainings, public awareness campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building initiatives.
The organization reaffirmed its dedication to raising a generation of informed and responsible young leaders who are equipped to protect, advocate, and drive sustainable social change within their communities.
