The Lagos State Government, in partnership with the Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN), has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at improving service delivery for children, youths and other vulnerable groups across the state .

The initiative was implemented with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC) and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

Speaking after the official handover of the document in Alausa, the Commissioner for Youths and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, said the ministry is committed to ensuring that all staff members comply with the new guidelines.

Ogunlende explained that the SOP would serve as a key framework to guide the ministry’s operations and improve the efficiency of its services to residents.

According to him, the document comes at a crucial time and will provide clear procedures for the ministry’s work.

“We have successfully launched a Standard Operating Procedure, a guiding training document that will direct everything we do in the Ministry of Youths and Social Development.

It is coming at a perfect time, and our partners have been instrumental in delivering this project,” he said.

He added that the ministry would ensure that staff members adopt and use the document in carrying out their duties.

“What this means is that, as a ministry and as a state, we now have operating procedures that will guide every step we take. We intend to ensure that all staff members use this document to deliver effective services to the people of Lagos State,” he stated.

Also speaking, Senior Communications Officer at CEWHIN, Oluwatobi Opadokun, said the project was designed to provide technical support for social workers and youth development officers within the ministry.

He noted that the initiative aims to strengthen professional social work practice and enhance service delivery for children, youths and other vulnerable populations.

Opadokun explained that CEWHIN worked closely with the ministry to develop knowledge resources that will standardise processes and improve professional practice.

According to him, the materials developed include the SOP on effective service delivery, a training manual for social workers and youth development officers, guidance notes on writing Social Investigation Reports (SIR), and documents promoting survivor-centred approaches.

He further disclosed that the project also involved a Training of Trainers programme for social workers, which equipped participants with best practices in case management and social work.

The trained officers, he said, are expected to transfer the knowledge gained to colleagues across various departments within the ministry, thereby strengthening institutional capacity and expanding the impact of the programme.