On June 21st and 22nd, 2024, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) hosted a transformative two-day workshop, “Capacity Building Workshop for Selected Community Members on Channeling Asset Mapping to Action Plans.” Organized by the Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development in collaboration with the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, the event was designed to empower community representatives with the skills needed to turn community insights into actionable development plans. Held at the UNILAG Research Building, the workshop attracted participants from six diverse communities, including Ago, Ajegunle, Akoka, Oworonshoki, and Ikeja, creating a vibrant space for exchanging ideas and strategies tailored to each community’s unique needs.
The workshop focused on enhancing community resilience through structured, inclusive approaches that emphasized the importance of participatory planning.
Key Takeaways
- Asset Mapping
- Professor Lawanson introduced the participants to the core principles of asset mapping, laying the foundation for the workshop.
- Miss Dami Odekunle provided an in-depth explanation of the asset mapping process, ensuring that participants fully grasped each stage. With the assistance of research professionals, community members applied their knowledge in real-time, developing a preliminary framework to address five key community needs.
Prioritization and Planning
- On the second day, participants honed their focus by narrowing the five identified needs down to two pressing priorities before selecting the most urgent issue.
- A session on financial planning led by Seun equipped participants with essential budgeting and financial management skills.
- Dr. Alade led a discussion on advocacy and lobbying, underlining the critical role of advocacy in community-led development initiatives.
- An 18-month timeline was set for the execution of the selected action plan, demonstrating the workshop’s commitment to long-term, meaningful community development.
This workshop successfully bridged the gap between knowledge and practice, empowering participants to create and implement community-specific plans that promote sustained growth and resilience.
