By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
No fewer than 25 selected journalists have been trained in a 2-Day Capacity Building Workshop on Japan- UNESCO Project for Community Media Persons in Delta State.
This follows the successful advocacy meeting on the Japan-UNESCO project titled “Empowerment of Women and Girls in Marginalized Communities for Better Well-Being through Education and Advocacy” in Delta State on Tuesday, 11 May 2021 with funding from the Japan Government.
The UNESCO training for journalists coordinated by the Delta State Chairperson of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Comrade Patricia Gbemudu, held at the banquet Hall, Orchid Hotels Asaba from Wednesday,18th (arrival) to Saturday, 21st (departure) August, 2021.
While soliciting the cooperation of journalists for a smooth success of the program Gbemudu revealed that the selection of participants was based on areas of need by the organizers, adding that there was no favouritism in choosing the participants.
The Japan Government provided funding to UNESCO Regional Office Abuja to organize the training for Community Media on Balanced Gender Based Violence Reportage in Marginalized Communities in Delta State.
The capacity-building workshop, which was earlier implemented in Bauchi and Gombe States before being replicated in Delta State, is aimed towards balanced reportage on gender-based violence and how to use their platforms to advocate for the rights of women and girls on Gender Base Violence (GBV); and to educate on COVID-19 prevention, violent extremism and hate speech.
The media personnel were equipped with strategies for developing quality contents on gender sensitive reportage, countering hate speech, mis/disinformation and early warning mechanism on SGBV and its impact on the communities.
The resource Persons, Prof. Sharon Adetutu Omotosho of the University of Ibadan and Dr. Zubairu Ata of the University of Jos dwelled on the rudiments of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and how to utilize its concepts to improve reportage on Sexual and Gender Base Violence (SGBV).
In her speech, Communication and Information Officer, UNESCO Regional Office Abuja, Ms Yachat Nuhu disclosed that the Japan-UNESCO project is set to tackle the disruption of learning and the surge of gender-based violence brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and will promote the empowerment of women and girls in marginalized communities for resilience strengthening and self-actualization through education.
According to Nuhu “The project is also a tool for effective advocacy on eliminating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and reducing the spread of COVID-19, ultimately contributing to peace, stability and inclusive development in the beneficiary States: Bauchi, Gombe and Delta. This is expected to be achieved through the combined impact of psychosocial rehabilitation, community media empowerment, and second chance education opportunities.
“Japan has had series of collaboration with UNESCO over the years in its efforts to promote sustainable development. The focus of the project on the promotion of peace, stability, and inclusive development for shared prosperity is at the heart of Japan’s Country Development Cooperation Policy for Nigeria”.
The State Council Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Michael Ikeogwu commended the Japan Government and UNESCO for including Delta State in the capacity building workshop for media practitioners.
Ikeogwu appealed to other international and multi national organizations to emulate UNESCO to train journalists in the State.