OISD takes training of female journalists to Gombe

OISD takes training of female journalists to Gombe

By Ernest Ogezi

The Organization for Innovation and Sustainable Development, OISD has been breaking new grounds and helping women break barriers and glass ceilings for about a month now. Through the program “SHE EXISTS: Promoting equity and equal opportunities for female journalists in North East Nigeria,” OISD has kindled the burning flames of advocacy, effective journalism and the eye for the bigger story among women journalists in Nigeria’s North East.

The training began in Adamawa, moved to Taraba and the train is currently in Gombe State. The initiative is sponsored by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and will see at least 350 female journalists trained across the 6 States of the North East.

The opening ceremony was opened by Aishah Gambari, Senior Information Specialist at the U.S. Embassy Abuja. She highlighted the fact that women are typically a minority group with the media space in Nigeria and when trainings such as this one includes their male counterparts; women are often relegated. She stated that this fact is one of the reasons for the Embassy sponsoring an all-female training.

On his part, the Executive Director and Co-founder of the Organization for Innovation and Sustainable Development gave a rousing speech about the importance of women and how the anecdotes and stereotypes that characterize the perception of women in society and their contributions in all spheres of life.

Read Also: OISD, U.S. Embassy train female journalists in Taraba

The ED assured that the training will equip women to be better journalists and fantastic in the areas of ethics and overall responsiveness. He further stated that women journalists after acquiring this training will help ensure journalistic parity in news and programming ensuring that the women stories are told with women’s voices.

The female journalists were trained intensively by experts and professionals in the field of journalism, research, ICT and data inclusion in reportage.

The training was delivered in a hybrid fashion with some modules delivered virtually and most delivered physically by the team on ground.

The training coordinator, Mr Ernest Ogezi encouraged women to tell their stories. He mentioned that with so many women in the media space, it is surprising that the women occupy very few spaces in newspapers, television and radio programming.

It is upon the women journalists to drive such change and shape the narratives.

The training will continue to Borno, Yobe and Bauchi.

OISD takes training of female journalists to Gombe