OLIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
OCDI is a non-governmental, non-religious and non-political organization that provides social services such as counseling, psychosocial support, empowerment, legal aid, welfare support and skill acquisition to women, girls and youths in Nigeria.
OCDI is a non-governmental, non-religious and non-political organization that provides social services such as counseling, psychosocial support, empowerment, legal aid, welfare support and skill acquisition to women, girls and youths in Nigeria. This is achieved by linking community based organizations to various opportunities and support that exist for rural/community development as the need arises. Community based organizations, Faith based organizations, youth organizations and women groups are in turn supported in designing, implementing and sustaining their own programs.
OCDI was established in 2006 and registered with the Kwara State Ministry of Social Welfare as Agent of Change Development Initiatives with operations only in Kwara state but it later had a nationwide coverage and registered with the corporate Affairs commission as OCDI in 2011. Our focus areas are;
I. Community Health Initiatives,
2. Reducing poverty through livelihood programs,
3. Improving quality of Education and life building skills and
4. Environmental Awareness and management.
In the health sector we have provided Hiv testing services, TB and other medical services with linkages to health centers for referrals and follow up in different parts of kwara and Anambra State. Women from different parts of Edu, Patigi, Offa and Oyun LGAs has been referred for anti natal services and at the same time mobilized for MTCT services. People in target communities in Ifelodun LGA in Kwara State has been reached with Interpersonal communication messages on malaria prevention and treatment while Communities in Moro and Isin LGAs in Kwara state has been reached with Local drama to aid behavioural change on malaria prevention and treatment.
Trainings on Leadership, Resource mobilization, creating a development plan, amongst others were provided for School Based Management Committee in Oke-Ero, Ekiti and Ifelodun LGA which equipped them with the skills to hold government accountable, commit to child protection, school development and quality Education. Enrolment rate in government schools and created an environment conducive for all children regardless of their special needs, Ethnic group and status in the community.
21st century skills’ training was provided for National Volunteers in hard to reach secondary schools who use the skills in making teaching and learning easier thereby increasing enrolment in science classes. Volunteers use extracurricular activities in making teaching and learning interesting and also created inclusive Neighbourhood spaces for all children in target communities in Oke-Ero, Ifelodun, Moro and Asa LGAs.
Life skills such as Self Esteem, Goal setting, Refusal skills and Adolescent reproductive health provided for girls in secondary schools increased their self-confidence and broke barriers by talking freely about reproductive health in our monthly girls Open day program in the office. Vulnerable women from different groups benefitted from our micro credit support which was used in boosting their business and yielded more income and profit.
ABOUT THE CEO
Oluwatoni Adeleke is the CEO and founder of OCDI. Oluwatoni is a Passionate, committed and skilled social worker with extensive experience in designing, implementing, reporting, monitoring and evaluation of community based poverty reduction programs.
Oluwatoni worked with Kwara State Community and social Development Agency (KWCSDA) a World Bank assisted project as a field level operations officer where she sensitized and mobilized communities on social safety nets, social infrastructure and facilitated Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) for several communities and group’s needs for 7 years before resigning to full time with OCDI in 2017.
She worked with International Women Communication center (IWCC) as a filed level officer where she supervised trained and mentored caregivers in the HIV/AIDs Home based care program. She also worked with New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) youth as the project secretary where she coordinated HIV/AIDS programs in target schools in Kwara State.
The CEO holds an Msc degree In Social Work, two postgraduate diplomas in Rural Development and Environmental Management then a higher National Diploma in Building Technology.
Oluwatoni is the Vice President, Africa Region International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the acting Secretary, Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW) and a member of the board of Trustee, Civil Society for Cancer Eradication in Nigeria (CISCANEN).
