Adekola OJERINDE

The Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) Ibadan has concluded a two-day capacity-building training for women members of Ward Development Committees (WDCs) in 11 Local  Government Areas in Ibadan, aimed at improving leadership, healthcare governance, and community engagement.

The training, which took place on Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th November 2025, brought together women leaders from various wards to enhance their understanding of primary healthcare systems, WDC roles and responsibilities, community mobilization, and leadership for effective service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of JDPC Ibadan, Mr. Jide Bamgbose, Head of Democracy and Governance, said the initiative was designed to strengthen community participation in grassroots development and improve accountability and service delivery across primary healthcare centres. He noted that empowering women in WDCs is vital because of their influence and proximity to community needs.

During Day 1, participants received practical sessions on strengthening their knowledge of Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) operations, understanding their oversight roles, and applying community engagement techniques for sensitization and mobilization.

Day 2 focused on resource mobilization and fundraising, where participants were trained on identifying local resources, engaging stakeholders, and partnering with government agencies. Additional sessions covered Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) to ensure women, youth, and marginalized groups are meaningfully involved in decision-making and service access. The final session on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) equipped participants with skills to track ward-level projects, collect data, and provide feedback for systemic improvement.

Participants commended JDPC Ibadan for the training, noting that it has broadened their understanding of governance processes and improved their confidence to function effectively in their WDC roles.

The training forms part of JDPC Ibadan’s ongoing efforts to strengthen community structures, promote inclusive governance, and support improved health outcomes at the grassroots level across Oyo State.