ABEOKUTA– The United Nations (UN) Women in collaboration with Women Radio will from Thursday, the 1st of September, 2022 train journalists on issues around Gender Responsive Reporting in Nigeria.
The event will see critical stakeholders dialogue on issues of gender inequality and reportage in Nigeria, while selected political journalists cutting across various media organisations will be trained on same issues for two days.
The United Nations (UN) Women Representative to Nigeria and Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), Ms Beatrice Eyong said the dialogue is aimed to bring critical stakeholders from the media sector to discuss on how best to address gender inequality gaps in Nigeria.
She added that critical decisions from the dialogue will elicit actionable commitments towards leveraging the media to create awareness on gender equality.
Eyong further stated the the dialogue will equally clarify misconceptions and mobilize wider public support to strengthen chances for increased participation and representation in decision making positions in Nigeria
Meanwhile, the Executive Director, Women Radio, who doubles as United Nations(UN) Women Media Consultant, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya corroborating the scheduled media dialogue, pointed out that women and girls are marginalized and experience several forms of discrimination such as land ownership, among others
“Women and girls are marginalized and experience several forms of discrimination such as land ownership, inheritance, education, employment, political leadership etc. and equally endure sexual and gender-based violence, which has further widened the gulf of gender inequality in Nigeria.
“Despite several efforts from civil society, gender equality activists and government stakeholders in over a decade-long journey, the low participation and representation of women in all aspect of our development remains unimaginably low”, she added
She further explained that, the media dialogue also aim to develop a Media Pact between United Nations (UN) Women and Media Organizations for future engagement, adding that participants choice was based on their commitment and notable contributions of their media organization to advancing women’s rights and gender equality.
