OISD closes out Gombe version of training of female journalists with style

OISD closes out Gombe version of training of female journalists with style

By Ernest Ogezi

The Organization for Innovation and Sustainable Development, OISD took the training of female journalists in the North East of Nigeria to the Gombe State Capital. The entire programme would see a total of 350 female journalists trained across 6 states of the North East at its end.

The training in Gombe was as immersive as Adamawa and Taraba before it. Sponsored by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Abuja, the training had 35 female journalists in attendance. The journalists were taken through nine modules of carefully designed topics.

The topics ranged from Ethics of Sexual and Gender-based violence reporting, Advanced reporting in modern media, ethics of reporting women in violent conflict situations, application of ICT in modern news reportage, among others. the relevance of these were highlighted in the opening speech of OISD’s Executive Director, Mr Jamilu Yusuf.

Female journalists are often relegated to the background in the media. The media in Nigeria is a strongly male-dominated field with very few women making it to the very top of media leadership. The training expounded on how this could harm the society as the critical contributions of women could be lost. More so, female stories are most likely to be better told by females who have the ability of putting themselves in the shoes of fellow women or survivors.

Certificates were handed out to the trainees by the Secretary to the State Government of Gombe represented, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women affairs, Mrs Sa’adatu Bome Ishaya. Mrs Sa’adatu expressed deep pleasure at the modules presented and further encouraged female journalists to go far and beyond in ensuring that the woman and the girl child in protected from harm, not only professionally but even from their home fronts.

The journalists were trained by experts in the fields of journalist, civil society and the academia. The team of facilitators was led by the Program Manager of the Organization for Innovation and Sustainable Development, Mr Ernest Ogezi. The PM reminded the journalists that the industry would suffer if the unique contributions of women are not experienced.

The training has contributed to the growth of the media industry and has given female journalists the impetus to break new grounds and become all they can become. The Senior Information Specialist of the U.S. Embassy, Ms. Aishah Gambari re-echoed this when she gave her opening speech, she said women have the power to change the world. There is no better way to put it!