Civil Society Organizations from Civil Society Scaling Up-Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) state chapters have been successfully trained on advocacy and leadership skills for effective nutrition advocacy that will translate to improved nutrition outcomes in Nigeria.
The Steering Committee Chairman, CS-SUNN, Dr. David Olayemi while welcoming participants to the PINNS Training of Trainers on Advocacy and Leadership skills said the aim of the training was to raise real change agents in Nigeria who will drive transformation of the nutrition situation in Nigeria through effective advocacy.
Participants were trained on Policy Advocacy Circle, Nutrition Advocacy Basics, Advocacy Strategy formulation, Change Agency, Budget Advocacy, Partnership, Strategic Communication
and Working with the media. In addition, participants practicum was conducted with participants making presentations to ascertain their grasp of various topics discussed.
Some of the participants described the training as very impactful, saying it will guide their advocacy for improved nutrition interventions. In her words, the Coordinator of Lagos State chapter, CS-SUNN Dr. Modupe Akinyinka said “it was a good learning experience on how to ensure that the budgetary allocations we see are what they really are, so as to know how good spending on nutrition is. I have to go back and make sure I transfer some of this knowledge to the people on my team so we all can have the right knowledge and skill to conduct advocacy”.
“To be sincere to you, to some extent it looked as if I am in a shrine with a Babalawo where some juju was being performed on me because some of the exercises really showed me the true picture of myself. I intend to apply all I have learnt here because the issue of malnutrition in my state is alarming especially with the government cutting budgets on nutrition, I want to help improve allocation to nutrition budget, monitor and track nutrition budgets in my state”, said Usman Jubril a participant from Niger state.
The 5-days training which held from 23-27th July in Abuja drew participants from Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Lagos, Kano and the National.
Thanks I needed this