… advocates improvement on Nigeria’s security architecture
ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, YENAGOA
Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has asserted that female journalists are often exposed to danger and intimidation in the course of carrying out their lawful duties of rendering an accurate account of happenings in society.
NAWOJ also advocated equal access to opportunities to women in order to achieve equity and gender balance in the society.
National President, NAWOJ, Mrs Ladi Bala, made the assertion on Thursday in her opening remarks at a three-day workshop on ‘Gender Sensitive Reporting’ for female journalists in Yenagoa, Bayelsa capital.
She explained that the association had prioritised the capacity enhancement of its members to equip them to perform their duties more effectively to enthrone a better Nigeria.
Bala said that NAWOJ remained committed to a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria built on the principle of equity, justice and fairness to all citizens.
She equally advocated the improvement in the security architecture in the county.
She applauded the federal government for the appointment of new service chiefs in response to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, adding that women journalists had embarked on prayer sessions to tackle the security challenges facing the country.
She stated: “We are committed to a peaceful and united country. We cannot even contemplate another war because it will simply destabilise the entire African continent; we already have internally displaced persons among us, so where do we go?
“We have in addition to mounting pressures of the federal government called our members to embark on prayers and we are impressed at the efforts by the federal government in addressing the security challenges and we are hopeful that God is answering our prayers.”
In her welcome remarks, Chairperson of Bayelsa chapter of NAWOJ, Mrs Maria Olodi-Osuma, lauded the national executive of the association for prioritising training of female journalists in Bayelsa.
She urged the participants to avail themselves of the opportunities presented by the workshop to improve their skills and competencies.
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Bayelsa Ministry of Information, Mrs Jane Yaweh, advised female journalists to take their motherly roles seriously and embrace humility to ensure peace and stability in their families as well as involve God in the work.
She said that her experience had shown that humility and Godliness pay off in the long run.
Also speaking, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa Council, Mr Samuel Numonengi, commended NAWOJ for the training which he described as fundamental to journalism practice.