IBILE Foundation is a social welfare and citizen engagement organisation focused on proffering solutions to complex challenges confronting Lagos and promoting the social well being of the people of Lagos.
The Foundation in collaboration with the Lagos State Civil Society Partnership , (LACSOP) and Innovation Matters has launched a project tagged #REACHLagos, with the aim of promoting active citizenry of youth in Lagos through participation and involvement to ensure that COVID-19 relief package reaches the most vulnerable in all communities across Lagos State.
The initiative which commenced with the set up of the Omoibile Youth Squad, saw youths across the 57 LGAs/LCDAs in Lagos register as volunteers to support the initiative and achieve even spread of relief materials to the vulnerable; women and persons with disabilities, across the state.
Beyond ensuring that food relief package reaches the most vulnerable across the state, the youth volunteers under the REACHLagos initiative will be responsible for public enlightenment and monitoring of lockdown compliance, sensitising and monitoring compliance with preventive measures like social distancing and regular hand washing to curb the spread of the virus, and monitoring human rights abuses by security and enforcement officials due to breaches of the lockdown directive.
In a press statement issued from the REACHLagos directorate, it was noted that the challenges of the lockdown in Lagos State in a bid to curtail the spread of coronavirus, could range “from developing an efficient coping mechanism to help Lagosians adapt in congested neighbourhoods, getting sufficient community health workers to reach all communities in Lagos, to providing community educators and compliance inspectors to enlighten people about the need to comply with the stay at home directive and distribution of relief materials.”
In addressing the aforementioned challenges, REACHLagos is commencing online training of its Omo-Ibile Youth Squad members as community health supporters and mentoring compliance inspectors located within all communities in Lagos. The initiative will further document intelligence for positive and impactful decision making in government and facilitate the formation of workgroups to develop ideas into concrete proposals for the Government’s consideration.
REACHLagos will also continue to gather and gauge ground sentiments to feel the pulse of the people and keep the government updated of key issues of concern amongst Lagosians.
Other youths who are willing to be part of the REACHLagos Scheme can register online.
