Ololade Hector-Fowobaje is a psychologist, child advocate, and the Executive Director of the O5 Centre for Children and Women, a non-profit organization. As a member of the UNICEF Child Protection Network (CPN) and Child Sexual Abuse Protection Partners (CSAPP), she actively champions the rights of vulnerable women and children, emphasizing that true protection requires a united community effort.
Here are the key takeaways from her interview:
The Vision Behind O5 Centre
Hector-Fowobaje was moved to act after witnessing the silent suffering of vulnerable women and children who had nowhere to turn. She realized that child protection must go beyond merely responding to abuse; it requires proactive prevention, education, and family strengthening. The O5 Centre was founded to give a voice to the voiceless, with the core belief that protecting children and empowering women builds a stronger society overall.
Overcoming Early Obstacles
Starting out, the organization faced several significant hurdles:
- Funding: Like many NGOs, securing financial support was a primary struggle.
- Cultural Resistance: Many communities viewed abuse as a private “family matter,” making it difficult to convince people that safeguarding required urgent public attention.
- Institutional Reluctance: Changing deeply rooted beliefs and getting institutions to adopt modern safeguarding policies was an uphill battle.
They overcame these challenges through sheer persistence, strategic networking, and volunteering their expertise. Over time, their consistency and visible impact helped build trust within communities.
The Power of Networking and Support
While the O5 Centre receives fair support, Hector-Fowobaje stresses the constant need for more funding, volunteers, and partnerships. She credits networking as their greatest asset. Serving as the Vice Coordinator for the Ikeja chapter of CPN Lagos has connected her organization with hundreds of other child-focused NGOs, making it much easier to handle referrals and coordinate responses for complex, long-distance cases.
Empowering Women Against Societal Issues
Women continue to face major societal barriers, including gender-based violence (GBV), economic inequality, and harmful cultural practices. To combat this, Hector-Fowobaje advocates for a multi-sectoral approach:
- Systemic Reform: Better law enforcement training and the strict implementation of existing laws.
- Economic & Educational Access: Providing women with quality education and pathways to financial independence.
- Cultural Shift: Raising both boys and girls to value equality, empathy, and non-violence right from the home.
- Personal Empowerment: Encouraging women to know their rights, build healthy support networks, mentor others, and speak out against injustice.
Proactive Projects and Education
Beyond crisis response, Hector-Fowobaje and the O5 Centre focus heavily on preventive education through several initiatives:
- Project N.E.W.S.: A nationwide campaign (targeting the North, East, West, and South of Nigeria) to distribute child protection flyers and conduct community sensitization sessions on body safety.
- School Safeguarding: Partnering with educational institutions to develop robust child protection policies, train staff, and create safer learning environments.
- Community Outreach: Hosting parenting education and capacity-building workshops to promote positive parenting and children’s rights.
