NIJ Hosts Training On Gender Mainstreaming

By Treasure Mmadubuko

A one-day training on gender mainstreaming for students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) held today, 15 November at the NIJ campus, Ogba Lagos.

Over 70 students in attendance at the training

The guest speaker for the day, also an alumnus of the institution, was Miss Blessing Oladunjoye, publisher for Bonews services, which focuses on women news.

Dwelling on the theme: ‘’Gender Mainstreaming in Reporting’’, Miss Oladunjoye spoke extensively on the need for a gender balanced news reportage, adding that journalists had a big role in sensitizing the public on gender inequality in the society.

READ ALSO: She said the programme’s aspiration was to groom students and aspiring journalist to be more informed and involved so as to ensure a conducive and encouraging environment for both genders.

Miss Oladunjoy shared first-hand experience and a lot of tips the students need to arm themselves and stand out in the field.

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According to her, ‘understanding the dynamic of people to be able to engage them’ is very vital, mentioning such as the ‘technicality, language and diversity”.

An understanding of the above would help the journalist do well in reportage of gender mainstreaming and its related factors.

Our correspondent also took up some of the participants of the programme, and they expressed gratitude in being allowed to benefits.

Miss Kindness Osuman of the Higher National Diploma (HND) 1 class said that she learnt “ as students studying journalists we shouldn’t be biased and that we should try as much as possible to be fair towards both genders in our stories’.

Sir Daniel Okeke from of the National Diploma 1 class, said he enjoyed the event as the speaker taught on important keys in journalism.

He added:  “I learnt a lot pertaining to women’s rights and equal right generally …and how I can become a hope to the hopeless and voice to the voiceless”, he added.

Further buttressing the case of Gender inequality in new stories, she talked about the importance of gender balance in reporting and how to implement such skill stating that ‘ while combating gender stereotypes, one can only build trust when your story is balanced”, he recalled.

The Eagle reports that the Wole Soyinka’s Centre for investigative journalism with support from Bill and Melinda Gate foundation also support Bonews.