Report On the Advocacy Meeting with The Clerk of The House of The Oyo State House of Assembly
Report On the Advocacy Meeting with The Clerk of The House and Management Team of The Oyo State House of Assembly
PLAN FOUNDATION REPORT ON THE ADVOCACY MEETING WITH THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE AND MANAGEMENT TEAM OF THE OYO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ON THE DRAFT BILL FOR THE PREVENTION OF UNPLANNED PREGNANCY AND UNSAFE ABORTION UNDER THE ACCESS PROJECT (ACCELERATING COMMUNITY COMMITMENT TOWARDS EXPANDING SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN OYO STATE), FUNDED BY AMPLIFYCHANGE
DATE: FRIDAY, 13TH JUNE 2025
LOCATION: OYO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT, IBADAN
INTRODUCTION
As part of ongoing efforts to promote the reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Oyo State, PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation (PLAN Foundation) held an advocacy meeting with the Clerk of the House and the Management Team of the Oyo State House of Assembly. The engagement focused on the Draft Bill for the Prevention of Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion, a project under the ACCESS Project, funded by AmplifyChange.
The advocacy visit aimed to strengthen legislative collaboration, seek policy support, and advocate for the passage of a bill that addresses the pressing issues of unplanned pregnancy and unsafe abortion among women and girls in Oyo State.
OPENING SESSION
The meeting commenced with an opening prayer led by Barrister Adeshina Abolade, Deputy Clerk in charge of Legal, Finance, and Administration.
Immediately after the prayer, the Clerk of the House and the management team officially welcomed the PLAN Foundation Team. They acknowledged receipt of PLAN Foundation’s request for the advocacy visit and expressed willingness to engage in discussions that prioritise the health and rights of the citizens, especially women and girls.
ATTENDANCE
Key Officials of the Oyo State House of Assembly Present:
Barrister Taiwo Adenike Akinola (Clerk of the House)
Barrister Adeshina Abolade (Deputy Clerk, Legal, Finance, and Administration)
Mr. Ibrahim Kehinde (Deputy Clerk, Legislative Matters, Research, and Budget)
Mrs. Olajumoke Olaribigbe (Director of Information)
Mrs Aderonke Ogundeji (Director of Legislative Planning, Budget, Research, and Library)
Mrs. Tolulope Ilori (Committee Clerk, Women Affairs and Community Development)
PLAN Foundation Team Present:
Mr Obatunde Oladapo (Executive Director)
Mrs Leye Ojemuyiwa (Program Manager)
Mr Ayoola Johnson (Operations Lead/MEAL Manager)
Mrs Ifedayo Osemwegie (Advocacy, Strategic Communication and Media Officer)
OVERVIEW OF THE ADVOCACY MEETING
The meeting was facilitated by Mrs. Tolulope Ilori, the Committee Clerk for Women Affairs and Community Development, who formally introduced the Honourable members present.
In her welcome remarks, the Clerk of the House, Barrister Taiwo Adenike Akinola, emphasised the Assembly’s openness to initiatives that promote the health and wellbeing of citizens, particularly vulnerable groups such as women and adolescents.
After which, the Executive Director of PLAN Foundation, Mr Obatunde Oladapo, presented an overview of the Amplify-Change-funded ACCESS Project, highlighting its objectives to reduce unsafe abortions among adolescents and women in Oyo State, advocate for the passage of the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion and Unplanned Pregnancy Bill, promote the adoption and institutionalisation of Life Planning Education in Oyo State schools, and expand access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in healthcare centres across the state. He discussed key milestones that have been achieved under the project, such as the establishment of the iChoose Peer Educators Club, piloting Life Planning Education in four secondary schools, and the provision of adolescent-friendly SRH services. A real-life impact story was shared of an SS2 student who, through support from a peer educator, avoided an unsafe abortion, received counselling, and is now accessing antenatal care while continuing her education. The session ended with questions from members of the House of Assembly on the sustainability of the peer educator model, the role of the legislature in advancing SRH policies, and monitoring mechanisms for the ACCESS Project, all of which were addressed by the PLAN Foundation Team while the Clerk of the Oyo State House of Assembly and her team reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration with PLAN Foundation and other civil society for putting in place enabling laws for promoting the optimal health and wellbeing of the good people of Oyo State.
CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS
The advocacy meeting concluded on a positive note, with a mutual agreement to continue engagements towards the passage of the Prevention of Unplanned Pregnancy and Prevention of Unsafe Abortion Bill. The Clerk of the House reiterated the Assembly’s readiness to work with PLAN Foundation in reviewing the draft bill and advancing legislative reforms that prioritize the health and wellbeing of women and girls in Oyo State.
PLAN Foundation expressed gratitude for the audience and reaffirmed its commitment to providing technical support, advocacy leadership, and evidence-based recommendations to facilitate policy change.
Ifedayo Osemwegie,
Advocacy, Social Mobilization and Media Officer,
PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation (PLAN Foundation),
Ibadan, Nigeria
+2348038320421
ifedayo@planfoundation.org.ng
X – @NG_PLAN
About Us
PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation (PLAN Foundation), was the first independent support group for people with HIV (PHIV) in Oyo State in Southwestern Nigeria. It is on record that we had the opportunity to participate actively and notably in most of these processes.
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