By Ebi Kesiena
In commemoration of the International Women’s Day, IWD 2023, Women in Media Development Initiative (WIMDI) has hampered on the need for female journalists in Nigeria to sharpen their digital skills or remain a dramatically underrepresented group in the affairs of the country.
Speaking at a one-day training of female journalists in Abuja, Director of WIMDI, Rita Eghujovbo explained that the aim of the training was to further educate female journalists on the importance of digital skills as journalists and to bridge the gender gap.
According to Eghujovbo, with the advent of social media and the use of smart phones, female journalists have been tasked to use the digital space, as it will enable them to contribute actively and meet up with the speed of real time, fast moving journalism.
With the theme: “Mainstreaming Gender in Media Reportage and Digital Messaging”, She added that as the media is the fourth estate of the realm, it is very important that female journalists, irrespective of their field of expertise or beat, are well informed and trained, especially in technological advancements.
“A woman might know how to do the job but the men are the ones in the media taking the glory.
“Women in the media must mentor others because it is not enough for you to know, share the knowledge and your mentees will in turn share it with others and before you know what is happening, it will spread.
“Women in the media must not lack behind, upgrade when it comes to tech know what is trending. We are our sisters’ keepers, not competitors.” She said.
Also speaking, Facilitator and Assistant Director, Voice of Nigeria, Mrs Rafat Salami, said the training gives women in the media an opportunity to learn about technology that can enhance their work output.
She added that the dynamics of living, existence and earning has changed, is evolving and will keep evolving adding that technology improves on our work output.
‘‘women have to improve on their skills to stay relevant, when women deploy technology to their work, it improves their output.
‘‘for women in the media it is so important as every female journalist must be a multimedia journalist, you must be able to use all the multimedia platforms to do your work. If you are left behind then you will lose out on the job, so as women journalists we must opt our skills’’ she said.
Earlier, the founder of WIMDI, Omolara Olademiji, on her part, noted that the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly elections further set the female gender back as many women lost in their comeback bids. This aside the increased rate of violence against women and other issues.
Women In Media Development Initiative, WIMDI is a non-governmental organization
The theme for this year’s celebration is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”.
