Kano Governor pledges support to NAWOJ
The Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, has pledged to support the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to enable the association achieve its objectives.
Yusuf, who made the disclosure during the opening ceremony of NAWOJ National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Kano on Thursday, said that the major objective is fighting for equal rights for women and the girl-child.
The theme of the meeting was, “Women Journalists as veritable in fighting for equal rights for women and girls child. instruments for promoting national cohesion, security and development”.
Yusuf, who was represented by the Kano State Chief of Staff, Shehu Sagagi, expressed profound respect for women in journalism.
He commended the efforts of female media practitioners across the country, and assured NAWOJ members of his support, and said that the state government would always support them to achieve their aims and objectives.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Anti corruption of Kano State, Alhaji Muhyi Gado, said that corruption was really affecting the progress of nation building.
Gado urged Nigerians to stop engaging in corrupt practice for better development.
A Professor of Linguistics, Bayero University Kano, Prof. Mukhtar Yahaya, presented a paper titled, “Women Journalists as veritable instruments for promoting national cohesion, security and development”.
Yahaya commended the efforts of the female journalists for fighting in the course of gender equality which had encouraged more female into the profession.
He urged the state governor to provide suitable Secretariat, vehicles and other things needed for NAWOJ to achieve more success in their duties.
The National Chairperson of NAWOJ, Hajia Aisha Ibrahim, said that NAWOJ had been striving to improve the professional growth of members, to give them springboards to hone their skills and expand their networks through media enterprise.
Aisha Ibrahim said that the executive had been training and retraining members across geopolitical divides with the support of NGO partners like Actionaid.
“My administration is also streamlining modalities towards skills development with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) as a formidable partner.
“We are looking beyond journalism and visualising the lives of our members on retirement.
“The picture looks dismal, but with our plans materialising, it can only get better for our members after retirement,” she said.
According to her, NAWOJ has been collaborating with relevant corporate organisations to ensure that members are professionally equipped to square up with the challenges posed by the dynamics of Media Practice in the 21st Century.
“We have also been in the frontline of advocacies for affirmative action, the clamor for the integration of Women in governance for equitable representation.
“This is part of what infuses cohesion in nation building, and NAWOJ is a frontliner in advocating for gender balance.
“As the 2024 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence came to a head on November 10, we took stock of efforts made by our association and members.
“We can proudly say we got over 85 per cent coverage of events organized by NAWOJ across chapters and zones,” Ibrahim said.
She acknowledged the need for a functional Secretariat in an accessible part of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ibrahim said that the executives had begun Skill Empowerment Initiative aimed to equip women journalists with needed skills to prepare them for life on retirement from active practice.
The Chairman of the National Union of Journalist (NUJ), Malam Sulaimon Dederi, said the NAWOJ meeting would advance the voice, capacity, and contributions of women journalists to the media landscape and society at large.
Dederi commended the steadfastness of NAWOJ in promoting professionalism, gender equality, and ethical journalism which continues to inspire and uplift the broader community.
He prayed that women’s media efforts would yield impactful resolutions that would further empowered women in journalism and contribute meaningfully to nation-building.
In her goodwill message, a female leader in Gombe, Mrs Ruth Abubakar, urged female journalists to increase collaboration to achieve more success in fighting for the humanity.
The Chairperson NAWOJ, Kano State Chapter, Hajia Bahijja Kabara, in her welcome address said that the state was privileged to host the assembly, which brings together journalists from all 36 states in the the country.
She acknowledged the members’ commitments towards their noble profession of journalism.
Kabara also commended the efforts of the Kano state governor for his tireless efforts in shaping narratives, informing the public, and contributing to societal development.
(NAN)