The Ekiti State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project has organized an interactive session with contractors and supervisors to strengthen awareness and compliance on safeguards issues critical to the success of its interventions across the state.

The engagement held in Ado-Ekiti, brought together stakeholders to discussed on gender issues, occupational health and safety, and social issues, with emphasis on ensuring that project implementation aligns with international best practices and safeguards principles.

In his opening remarks, the State Project Coordinator of the Project, Mr. Olayinka Adedipe, represented by the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer L-PRES, Dr.Odewale Tajudeen, said the interactive forum was designed to build a culture of accountability among contractors and supervisors. He stressed that L-PRES projects must not only deliver physical results but also uphold international standards of safety, equity, and community inclusion.

Also speaking at the forum , the Gender-Based Violence Officer, Mrs. Busola Adeniyi, underscored the importance of gender sensitivity in project execution.

She urged contractors to create safe and inclusive work environments where women are not discriminated against, while also putting in place mechanisms to prevent and respond to cases of gender-based violence within host communities.

In his presentation, the Environmental Safeguards Officer, Mr. Olaniyi Ijadare, highlighted the need to prioritize occupational health and safety at project sites. He reminded contractors of their responsibility to provide workers with adequate protective equipment, enforce safety standards, and mitigate environmental hazards that may arise during construction.

Also speaking, the Social Safeguards Officer, Mrs. Aderonke Oke, stressed the significance of addressing community-related social issues in the course of implementation. She urged contractors to maintain open communication with local residents, respect cultural values, and ensure that grievances are promptly addressed through established redress mechanisms.

Responding, the Managing Director, Handy Dave Global Engr. Ayeni Olayinka spoke on behalf of the contractors at the session commended the L-PRES team for the enlightenment and pledged to incorporate the safeguards guidelines into their daily operations.

They assured the project management that issues of gender inclusion, workers’ safety, and community relations would be given priority as projects progress.

The safeguards interaction forms part of L-PRES’s ongoing strategy to ensure that infrastructure and livelihood interventions in the livestock sector are not only effective but also socially inclusive, environmentally sustainable, and safe for all stakeholders