Dana Zagi, Gender Lead, Daily Trust, organised a Girls’ Leadership and Media Bootcamp for 200 to 400-level (22) female Mass Communication at the University of Jos. focused on equipping young female Mass Communication students with leadership skills, confidence, and storytelling abilities to help them grow as future media leaders and change makers.
It focuses on basic leadership training and small storytelling projects to help participants develop confidence, communication skills, and creative problem-solving abilities. Through interactive meetings, students will refine their ability to craft compelling narratives, engage with media platforms, and explore leadership in real-world contexts. Hands-on activities, such as storytelling exercises and mentorship sessions, will guide participants in applying leadership principles effectively. Catherine Gicheru, a Veteran Journalist from Kenya and the Director of the African Women Journalism Project, discussed the topic: Preparing for Leadership in the Newsroom: Building Competence, Confidence, and Influence. Her session focused on developing leadership traits, understanding newsroom dynamics, and overcoming challenges faced by women in journalism.
Lami Sadiq, former head of investigation at Media Trust Group and a two-time winner of the Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR) a 2019 fellow of the ReportWomen! spoke on: Storytelling for Change. The 2019 FRLP fellow empowered the participants on how to use narrative-driven journalism as a tool for advocacy, tackling social issues through compelling investigative stories that spark meaningful dialogue. Mabas Akila, lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Jos, joined the contributors to discuss the essence of mentorship in the profession.
The programme will be sustained through physical meetings every two months and weekly virtual sessions via WhatsApp, ensuring consistent mentorship, peer support, and active engagement in both leadership and storytelling development.
Click here to listen to her leadership project session.
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