PLAN Foundation Report on The Sensitization Visit to The Oyo State Governor's Office

PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation Report on The Sensitization Visit to The Oyo State Governor's Office

PLAN FOUNDATION REPORT ON THE SENSITIZATION VISIT TO THE OYO STATE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE ON THE DRAFT BILL FOR THE PREVENTION OF UNPLANNED PREGNANCY AND UNSAFE ABORTION UNDER THE ACCELERATING COMMUNITY COMMITMENT TOWARDS EXPANDING SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN OYO STATE (ACCESS) PROJECT, FUNDED BY AMPLIFYCHANGE

DATE: FRIDAY, 25TH JUNE 2025

LOCATION: OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, AGODI- 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) went on a sensitization visit to the Oyo State Governor’s Office. PLAN Foundation team met with officials from the governor’s office who welcomed the team on behalf of the governor. The visit was to sensitize, seek policy support, and advocate for the passage of a draft bill for the Prevention of Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion, pressing issues among women and girls in Oyo State.

The meeting commenced with an introduction by Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi, the Director for the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities who delivered the Governor’s message for his inability to meet with the PLAN Foundation team while officially welcoming the team and formally introducing the officials present. The team acknowledged receipt of PLAN Foundation’s request for the advocacy visit and expressed willingness to engage in discussions that prioritize the health and rights of the citizens, especially women and girls.

The primary objective of the visit was to sensitize and engage government stakeholders to advocate for the passing of Draft Bill for the Prevention of Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe Abortion for the accelerated community commitment and support towards expanding access to comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health services for women and girls in Oyo State (ACCESS) Project.

The Executive Director of PLAN Foundation, Mr. Obatunde Oladapo, presented the ACCESS Project, highlighting its objectives which is to contribute to reduction of 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 institutionalization of Life Planning Education in Oyo State public and private secondary schools, and expand access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Healthcare Centers in the State.

He discussed key interventions that have been implemented under the project such as the establishment of the iChoose Peer Educators Club among secondary school students in the four secondary schools identified and designated as target pilot secondary schools for Life Planning Education, and the provision of adolescent-friendly SRH services. He informed the government team that a total of 8 secondary teachers in the 4 schools and 4 healthcare workers in 4 primary healthcare facilities located close to the secondary schools were trained as iChoose Supervisors to train and oversee the activities of the iChoose Peer Educators.

PLAN Foundation’s Executive Director also highlighted the story of an SS2 student, who through support from a peer educator, was prevented from being made to patronize a quack for unsafe abortion by her guardian. The young girl received counseling from the Peer Educator and iChoose Supervisor in her school and referred to the designated healthcare facility providing youth-friendly SRH services in the community where she is now accessing antenatal care without disruption of continuing her education. It is worthy of note that the young girl has completed her West African School Certificate examinations.

After the speech by the Executive Director, officials at the meeting asked several questions on the sustainability of the peer educator model, and monitoring mechanisms for the ACCESS Project, to which the PLAN Foundation team made the necessary clarifications and explanations.

In response, Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi expressed appreciation of the Oyo State Government to PLAN Foundation for its remarkable support for the health and wellbeing of the poor and marginalized people in Oyo State through its projects over the years. He pledged the support of the Oyo State Government for the prompt signing of the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion and Unplanned Pregnancy Bill when it is passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly. He advised PLAN Foundation to extend its advocacy efforts to the Ministry of Budget and Planning as well as the Ministry of Finance once the proposed bill becomes law in order to ensure adequate allocation and release of funding for the institutionalization of life planning education interventions into secondary schools in Oyo State and possibly extending such to tertiary educational institutions in the State.

PLAN Foundation is excited at the positive outcome of the sensitization visit as a significant step towards fostering greater government commitment to expanding SRH services through community engagement in Oyo State and preventing unplanned pregnancy contributing to the unacceptably high rates of unsafe abortion among women and girls in the State. PLAN Foundation considers the government’s positive disposition as an indicator of its willingness to collaborate with PLAN Foundation in prioritizing 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

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