UNICEF, partners launch gender-transformative parenting programme in Ekiti

Ekiti State has joined five other states benefiting from the Positive Parenting Programme in Nigeria as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Value Female Network Africa and the Ekiti State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development commenced the Gender Transformative Positive Parenting Programme 1.0. 

The programme, which is currently ongoing, marks an important investment in parents and caregivers and in stronger protection for children.

Implementation of the two-day intensive training for Community facilitators in Ekiti started today, Wednesday, August 26, and will end tomorrow, Thursday, August 27, 2026. 

According to UNICEF and VFN Africa, the trained facilitators will thereafter lead a 10-week community parenting school across selected communities, directly reaching approximately 800 parents and caregivers. 

“Through household engagement, peer learning and community knowledge sharing, the programme is expected to extend key parenting and child protection messages to an estimated wider reach of more than 16,000 parents and caregivers.

Participants will build practical knowledge and skills in positive parenting, child development, emotional connection, parent-child communication, positive discipline, gender equitable caregiving, positive fatherhood, adolescent supervision, digital safety, safeguarding, prevention of sexual 

violence, prevention of female genital mutilation and child marriage, birth registration, community-based child protection structures and referral pathways.

Bringing these themes together reflects the reality that the risks affecting children are interconnected. Positive parenting provides a unique platform for parents and caregivers to understand those risks within one coherent framework, prevent harm early, recognise warning signs, challenge harmful practices and know where to seek support. 

The programme recognises the home is one of the earliest and most influential environments in a child’s life and therefore, the home unit must be leveraged to strengthen families and create safer communities,” the organisation stated.

Speaking on the programme, Mr Denis Onose of UNICEF, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Lagos Field Office, identified parents and caregivers as central figures to an effective child protection system because they are often the first to see a child’s needs and the first able to act. 

“By combining practical parenting skills with information on prevention, referral pathways and community protection structures, this programme will help families respond earlier and more confidently. UNICEF is pleased to support the State Government, together with Value Female Network Africa, to strengthen the protective environment around children,” he said.

Also speaking, Dr Costly Aderibigbe Saba, Executive Director of Value Female Network Africa, described the initiative as a landmark opportunity for parents and caregivers, saying, “Children are often described as leaders of tomorrow, but they are also learners, innovators and contributors today. We must therefore pay careful attention to the environments in which they are raised, the values they learn and the protection they receive. This programme gives parents practical tools to raise children with care, 

ALSO READ: Kwara: We’ll remain in APC to cause change in govt — Aggrieved members

confidence and dignity while equipping families with the information they need to prevent violence and harmful practices.”

She added, “Positive parenting also gives us the right opportunity to make child protection more connected and practical for families. A parent should not have to understand positive discipline in one programme, female genital mutilation in another, child marriage somewhere else and referral pathways only when a crisis occurs. 

Bringing these issues together helps parents understand the whole child and strengthens their role as the first protective environment around every child.”

The Ekiti State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development will support state-level coordination, community mobilisation and linkages with relevant child protection and gender based violence response structures. 

According to them, the programme will also strengthen awareness and use of referral pathways so that children and families requiring additional support can access appropriate services in a timely and safe manner.

They said over the 10-week parenting school, parents and caregivers will participate in practical sessions that encourage reflection on everyday parenting challenges, strengthen positive caregiving practices and build confidence to respond to child protection concerns within their homes and communities.

The Gender Transformative Positive Parenting Programme 1.0 represents a shared investment in stronger families and a brighter future for children. Through strengthened parenting knowledge, skills and access to support, the programme seeks to build safer homes, stronger families and a brighter future where children are protected, respected and supported to realise their full potential.