LEADERSHIP Newspaper, others win at Maiden ReportHer Awards

By allcitynews.ng

LEADERSHIP Newspaper win big at the maiden edition of the ReportHer Awards, a gender balanced reportage award, held in Lagos on Saturday 8 July 2023 with Nigerian media and journalists celebrated  for their commitment to reporting women.

The ReportHer Award is an initiative of Women Radio (WFM91.7) in partnership with Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and support from UNWomen and Canadian government. It was aimed at  encouraging  gender-responsive reports on women and advancing the rights of girls and women.

The awards were in five categories namely TV category, Radio Category, Print Category, Digital Category and Journalists category.

LEADERSHIP Newspaper won Certificate of Achievement while others, AriseNews won the Television category as the TV station that reported women more and gave prime space to women. BluePrint Newspaper won the print category. Voice of Nigeria won the Radio category as the media platform that aimed at fair reportage of women. Techcabal won the Digital (online) category while Titilope Fadare, a senior reporter at Premium Times Nigeria won the Individual Journalist category.

The General Manager/BureauChief {Southern Operations}, Mr Chima Akwaja received the award on behalf of LEADERSHIP Newspaper as one of the best papers covered, that not only reported more women stories but also ensured gender-balanced reportage emerging.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director, WSCIJ, Motunrayo Alaka,   noted that ReportHer Awards came at a critical time in Nigeria’s history. She challenged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to aim for more than 35% in its appointments as the country awaits the list of ministers and heads of agencies, boards and parastatals, even as she emphasised the need for media to lead the way towards gender-balanced reportage that will enhance the development of both the media and the country.

On his part, the Chairman Women Radio 91.7, Dr Babatunde Okewale, thanked Nigerian media for the progress made so far in female reportage and for being deliberate in the fair inclusion of women. Okewale appreciated the UN Women and the Canadian government for their support towards the realisation of this idea.

Likewise, the UN Women country representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, commended media organisations for advancing the rights of women and girls in Nigeria through media visibility.

She faulted the stereotype and biased representation of women which birthed the need for UN Women to address the seclusion of women in national affairs and gender inequality. Eyong acknowledged the media as active shapers of perception and as such must be intentional in giving prominence to women-related issues to change the narrative that has been on for so long.

She said,“If we do not achieve gender equality and empowerment, we cannot achieve sustainable development goals.”

Also, the Africa Director of MacArthur foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima, why highlighting the importance of the ReportHer Awards and celebrated media organisations urged media houses to be more committed to gender and social inclusion.

In the same vein, President Women in Politics Forum, Barrister Ebere Ifendu, thanked the media on behalf of women and highlighted the need to change stereotyped reportage of women which is a challenge women in politics face.

On his part, the Director General, National Broadcasting Commission, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, commended the initiative and said women must be empowered to be part of the developmental process of Nigeria.

Ilelah also noted that  ReportHer Awards will prompt broadcasters to focus on more inclusive gender-balanced reportage. He encouraged the awardees to do more as there are a lot of grounds to be covered.

And in his in his own remark, the Executive Director WARDC, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, reiterated the importance of women in the development of the country and thanked UNWomen & Government of Canada for their support to Nigeria.

Likewise, the Vice-chair of Channels Media Group, Olusola Momoh, represented by Joke Rogers commended the initiative and re-emphasised the importance of supporting the cause of women as they contribute immeasurably to the growth of every nation.

And also, Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Women Trust Fund,
Mufiliat Fijabi, speaking on the need to close the gap in the visibility given to women especially women in leadership added that the ReportHer Awards is an initiative worthy of international standards and since UNwomen is represented across Africa it should be replicated across African countries.

The Director at International Press Centre {IPC},Lanre Arogundade who spoke on behalf of the board of judges revealed that the selection period was from March 2022 to March 2023.

According to Arogundade, the basis of selection which included the informative nature of the entries, ethics and professionalism, social responsibility of journalists on the female gender reportage also went to the extent to consider how women were used as news sources and the 50-50 representation of women in everyday stories.

Also Chairman NUJ Ogun State Council, Wale Olanrewaju, thanked Women Radio for its dedication to amplifying the voices of women and urged UNwomen and Women Radio to extend training to media in Ogun State.

The 2023 ReportHer Awards received 106 entries. Judges are Ene Ede gender advocate and publisher of the Woman Today newspaper, Lanre Arogundaade, Executive Director of International Press Centre (IPC), Chinonso Clark CEO Lead For Good Africa and Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive Officer of Connected Development (CODE).

Toun Okewale Sonaiya, co-founder Women Radio 91.7 thanked media owners, executives, editors and journalists who broke stereotypes in their reportage of Women especially during the 2023 elections and urged the winners not to rest on their oars as there is more to be done to achieve a 50:50 balanced reportage of men and women.

Moreover Sonaiya noted that “2024 ReportHer Awards will expand to photographic journalists categories and we must adopt a deliberate commitment to report women more and increase female representation in the media.

“We do everything possible to supply quality news and information to all our valuable readers day in, day out and we are committed to keep doing this. Your kind donation will help our continuous research efforts.”

For ADVERT Placement!
EVENT Coverage!
Have story to PUBLISH!
HAVE Breaking story with pictorial evidence!
OR wants to assist allcitynews.ng
by DONATIONS!
Kindly contact us via 09159744240 or ojezand@yahoo.com. Thank you.

Allcitynews.ng’s goal: To interface between policy makers & general public, most influential, informative and reliable issues-based online newspaper, working for unity, peace and development of the Country.

Disclaimer:

Comments expressed here do not in anyway reflect the opinions of allcitynews.ng or any employee thereof. It assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in such comments.