Sixty-five journalists in Ebonyi state participated and benefitted from the one-day training organised to build the confidence of female journalists and enable them to compete favourably with their male counterparts in and outside the newsroom to become leaders championing the cause of women in their reportage. The hybrid event was held on Friday, 19 May 2023, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) press center Abakaliki while others connected online via Zoom.
The training tagged ‘Rising as leaders in the newsroom; vis-a-vis societal stereotypes’ was put together by Fortunate Ozo, Assistant Manager News, Nigerian Television Authority, Abakaliki. It was part of her leadership project under the Report Women! Female Reporters Leadership Programme (FRLP), Champion building edition of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalists (WSCIJ) with funding support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
One of the resource persons, Nwadi Elobuike, the Zonal Director at NTA Enugu Zonal Network Center, spoke on the need for female journalists to be bold and confident in the line of duty. According to her, these traits will set female journalists apart and distinguish them as suitable role models for young female journalists. Barikumo Adou, former general manager at Radio Nigeria Unity FM, Abakaliki, stressed the importance of gender-friendly policies in media organisations.
The training equipped participants with the knowledge to function better as newsroom leaders, mentor young female reporters, and armed them with the latest news reporting skills to give women visibility through their reportages.
Also present were Chooks Oko, special adviser to the immediate past governor of Ebonyi state; Anthony Kwubeghari, NTA Abakaliki general manager; Tony Nwizi, Ebonyi state NUJ chairman and Nnamdi Akpa, Ebonyi state NUJ secretary.