The Women in Media Development Initiative (WIMDI) celebrated International Women’s Day in Abuja on Thursday with a powerful call for enhanced mentorship and increased female representation in media leadership.
Centered on the theme “Give to Gain,” the event gathered journalists, media professionals, and gender advocates to discuss strategies for industry-wide collaboration.
Persecondnews correspondent who covered the event, reports that keynote speakers emphasized that the future of an inclusive media environment rests on empowering the next generation of women.
Dr. Abiodun Essiet, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North Central), lauded female media practitioners for their vital role in shaping national narratives and driving social accountability.
She further encouraged journalists to elevate the profession through a commitment to investigative reporting and responsible storytelling.
“Women in media have shown that they can clean up and maintain spaces. While the profession comes with challenges, it also creates opportunities to mentor younger women and help them grow,” Essiet said.
She urged media professionals to use their platforms to highlight important issues affecting women and society.
“You must own the space and change the narrative. Promote stories and investigative journalism that put issues into proper perspective, including the domestic value women contribute to our GDP and the many roles they play in society,” she added.
Essiet also called on women journalists to support younger female voices, particularly those facing harassment and online bullying.
“My mentor used to ask, ‘Where is our wrapper?’ Today I ask the same question. We are seeing young women, especially social media influencers, facing bullying online. Women in media must ask themselves how they are protecting and mentoring these young women,” she said.
“We must give the younger generation our ‘wrapper’ — meaning our protection, guidance and mentorship.”
Also speaking, founder of SheForum Africa, Inimfon Etuk, emphasised that achieving justice for women goes beyond legal protection.
“For us, justice in the gender space is not just about punishment for offenders. It is about building systems that ensure girls have access to education and equal opportunities ,” she said.
According to her, addressing insecurity and gender-based violence is critical to ensuring girls can complete their education and reach their potential.
She further stressed the need for greater political inclusion for women ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We hope that as we approach the 2027 political cycle, our government systems will recognise women as equal partners in the development of our country,” Etuk said.
The Team Lead of WIMDI, Dr. Ewuzie Lilian Anele, highlighted the challenges faced by female journalists, including workplace bullying and limited access to leadership positions.
“Women journalists are bullied, and people rarely talk about it. We want to see more women in positions of authority so that the narrative can change and our voices can be amplified,” she said.
Anele explained that the theme “Give to Gain” serves as a call for intentional mentorship and knowledge-sharing.
“By guiding younger professionals, we secure the future of our industry,” she noted, emphasizing that the goal is for emerging female journalists to leverage the experience and networks of their predecessors.
However, she also highlighted a significant hurdle: the chronic underfunding of women-led media projects.
“Resources are incredibly limited,” Dr. Anele admitted. “Many of our initiatives, including today’s gathering, are largely self-sponsored. We need dedicated funding to bring these vital projects to life.”
Echoing this sentiment, WIMDI Project Director and broadcast journalist Georginia Ndukwe reiterated that the initiative was founded to bridge the empowerment gap.
She described the “Give to Gain” philosophy as a reminder that sharing skills and opportunities is essential for professional growth.
The event wrapped up with a collective pledge from participants to build stronger mentorship networks and push for policies that facilitate women’s advancement in the media.
Author
Leave a comment