Challenges faced by women in their bid to attain career success in all sectors of society was on the front burner during a one day leadership seminar organised for female journalists. The delay in the passage of the Gender Equality Bill, was condemned, noting that concerted efforts should be made towards establishing proper framework to remove barriers before women.
Africa Update reports that the seminar which took place on Wednesday, July 5, at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, in Port Harcourt the Rivers State capital, is part of the Female Reporters Leadership Programme for female journalists, a champion building edition of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism: Report Women.
Karina Igonikon, the recently installed President of Rotary club of Port Harcourt Garden City, convened the seminar with the theme: ‘Factors challenging the rise for female journalists in leading newsrooms’.
Igonikon, who is also the Bureau Chief of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), said the event is organised to build champions that will make impact in the newsroom, disclosing that the seminar was aimed at amplifying the capacity of women to take up leadership roles in the newsroom.
Her words: “We want to build champions in the newsroom. Champions that would lead thoughts in the newsroom. Champions that will make impact in the newsroom.
“We found out that there are a lot of women journalists; a lot of women that make up the newsroom. But when it comes to leading the newsroom, we see that there’s a bias towards the men.
“So, we want to look at what are these challenges facing women, such that we have an equal number of women in the newsroom but when these opportunities come, as it were, it is not there. So, we wanted to interrogate if this is actually true.
“Are there no women leading the newsroom and even if they are, what are the challenges they are facing? Those that are yet to come into that opportunity, what challenges are they facing because we believe that once the challenges are now identified, we can now proffer solutions to it.
“We want to conscientise and sensitise them to the fact that in as much as you want to be counted, you have to build your capacity to be counted, to fit into that position when that opportunity comes.
“So, we want to tell them that they can be leaders in their newsroom. They should embrace and push themselves to occupying these positions when it comes, and then make the most count, because the society depends on the strength of the newsroom.
“So, if the newsroom is the one that panders to the wishes of politicians or does not really take care of the issues that society wants addressed, then it is a weak newsroom, it is a weak society but when women who make up the newsroom are empowered, they are strengthened and they are aware that they can lead the newsroom, then we’ll make the impact that we desire.”
Delivering the keynote Address, the Executive Director of Step Up for Women in Journalism Initiative and Rivers State Correspondent of the Guardian Newspaper, Ann Godwin called on the 10th National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Gender Equality Bill before it.
Ann Godwin explained that, “the delay in the passage of the gender bill or the rejection of the gender bill has brought so much setback to the growth of women at all fronts. Noting that such a bill is prime, important and significant.
Godwin said: “We want to use this opportunity to call on the 10th Assembly to consider the passage of the gender bills. I believe this will serve as a guide to media managers and other managers in different sectors to begin to give consideration to women.
“Because that bill if when passed, it will be able to guide or regulate media managers or other managers in different sectors, it will guide them on how to treat women, basically, they will begin to treat women as professionals and not based on their gender. But because of the lack of that bill, people use their discretion to treat women anyhow they like. So, that is why the passage of that bill is very, very prime, it’s very, very important, it’s very, very significant towards contributing to the rising of women in different sectors of the economy.”
She encouraged female journalists to be resilient, embark on self development, develop networks and multiple streams of income.
On her part, the Special Guest of honour, Stella Din-Jacob, who is the Director of News at Television Continental (TVC), said women should put themselves forward to show that they can be leaders.
She advised women, especially female journalists to set targets for themselves and work towards achieving those targets.
Din-Jacob said: “I think it’s really not an issue for us to continue to expend time and energy debating whether women can do it, first things first, if you do not give somebody the opportunity, you won’t know if the person can do it. Certainly, If women don’t put themselves forward to show that indeed they can do it very well, and they can do it in such a way that will show what it is, the kind of stuff they’re made of.
“What is important is, women free your minds!. Don’t imprison your minds, stop remaining in bondage. You need to show in word and deed that you are capable of been trusted with responsibilities. That you understand that media today has gone beyond our expectation of 30 and 40 years ago.
“We need to understand that with the dynamic nature of the business we are in, we must start to reinvent ourselves and show the world at large that you are moving with the times and not remaining stagnant and thinking that everything you desire will be given to you on a platter of gold.
“If women don’t put themselves forward to show that indeed they can do it very well and they can do it in such a way that would show what it is the kind of stuff they are made of, then we are poorer for it in this business. We’ll just sit down and assume that a woman cannot do it. So, we should prove that women can do it,” she reiterated.
The panelists at the seminar were the Publisher of Verbatim Magazine, Clarice Azuatalam, an On-Air-Personality (OAP) with Nigerian Info, Wazobia FM and Cool FM, Chioma Ezenwafor, and Director NTA Network Centre, Seanam Bamigboye, who took time to dissect the issues raised at the event with Tonye Nria Dappa moderating the session.
In their various Goodwill messages, the Publisher of Africa Update and Chairman of Independent Newspaper Publishers Association of Rivers State, RIVPA, Gloria Boma Harry, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Rivers State, Stanley Job Stanley, represented by the Secretary Ike Wigodo, Past President of Rotary club of Port Harcourt Garden City, Monica Ogwa and Chairperson of NAWOJ, represented by the Vice Chairperson, identified other factors challenging the rise of female journalists in leading newsrooms to include, ‘mindset of media managers, toxic culture, lack of drive/interest, superiority complex, lack of self-awareness and competence.
The seminar was attended by female professionals such as a Nigerian award-winning film actress and Acting Chairman of the Labour Party LP in the state, Hilda Dokubo, a former Managing Director of NDDC, Ibim Semenitari, Vice President Female Publishers Association, Ivy Etokapkan, the Publisher of Verite Newspaper Florence Jose Pere, other dignitaries are: Publisher of Eastern Delta Times Warisenibo Joe Johnson and Blaise Elumezie the Publisher of Momentum Magazine.
Recall that the Gender Equality Bill, which was introduced to the Senate by Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South) in 2021, had passed second reading at the Senate. But it was reported to have been frustrated by some Senators who objected that it was against the perspective of certain religion and some socio-cultural norms.
According to the sponsor, Senator Olujimi, the bill is seeking equal rights for women, men and persons living with disabilities, and is intended to create a conducive atmosphere for women and persons with disabilities when it is finally passed.
Displeased by the delay in the passage of the gender bills, women groups had protested to the National Assembly to register their disappointment.
