Gender Strategy Advancement International, GSAI, a non-governmental organization has trained media practitioners on gender accountability and inclusive reporting to promote women’s involvement in critical sectors of society.
The training examined accountability issues related to women’s participation in the economy, politics, governance, and fostering inclusive economic development was organized in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation and the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism with twenty reporters and editors in attendance.
Dr. Adaora Onyechere Sydney, Executive Director of GSAI highlighted the significance of the training, stating its pivotal role in empowering journalists with essential skills to champion gender mainstreaming in government policies and programs.
“Nigeria, like many other countries, has been grappling with gender disparities, limiting the full potential and contributions of its female population.
“By empowering women, the country stands to benefit from a more diverse and inclusive workforce, increased economic growth, improved societal well-being, and enhanced political representation.
“The national budget went to about 50% Less of gender friendly budget for women, especially in empowerment programs.
“So we urge the Nigerian policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize gender mainstreaming in policies and programs, allocate resources for women-focused initiatives, and create an enabling environment that supports women’s empowerment,” She added.
Vice President of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Chizoba Ogbeche during the session emphasized ethical gender reporting, stressing the importance of language usage and fair representation of women in reporting.
“There is a need for deliberate effort to ensure the inclusion of women, who are experts in their fields as news sources, particularly in areas traditionally dominated by men’s voices such as politics, economics, conflict, science, and sports. Women could also be made visible in the media if they following are considered by media practitioners while choosing their news sources and areas of coverage,” she said.
A Political Economist and Policy Consultant, Dr Amaechi Anakwe declared that empowering women directly correlates with increased participation in governance and politics, noting that women’s underrepresentation stems from limited exposure to material conditions.
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