Cross Section Of Attendees At the UN Maiden Edition of the ReportHer Award. Photo: Olufisoye Adenitan
The United Nation has awarded female journalists across various media outlets who have exceptional reported gender sensitive issues.
According to the international body, the female gender is an indispensable factor in fostering development, peace and progress across nations of the world.
The UN Women Country’s Representatives to Nigeria and the ECOWAS, Ms Beatrice Eyong stated this in Lagos, at the maiden edition of the “ReportHer Award”, an initiative of the Women Radio 91.7 fm and the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism with support from UN Women and Government of Canada.
Ms Eyong who said it was important to promote women equality and gender empowerment, urged media Organisations to showcase women in their news as sources and content creators for adequate representation.
The Chairman of the MacAuthur Foundation, Abuja Office, Kole Shettima said the objective of the Award was in tandem with the focus of the Foundation for Equality and Social Inclusion
The Director General, Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mr Balarabe Shehu Ileila announced that, the Organisation was working out modalities to establish a Broadcast Institute to help sharpen the reporting skills of Journalists focusing on gender related issues.
Earlier, the CEO of Women Radio 91.7, Toun Okewale Sonaiya explained that the ceremony was to encourage Media Organisations and Journalists to help champion the 50:50 Gender balanced Reporting.
Voice of Nigeria won the Radio category, Digital category went to Tech Cabal, the print category went to Leadership Newspaper while Arise News won the Television category.
Titilope Fadare of Premium Times clinched the “Reporter” Journalist of the year award.
Writing by Olufisoye Adenitan; Editing by Hadiza Abdulrahman and Annabel Nwachukwu