Stand up, occupy leadership positions without fear – Olujimi tasks Female Journalists

Thelma Osatohanmwen, Grace Omachoko




A former Lawmaker representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, on Monday called on female Journalists in the state to stand up and occupy leadership positions without entertaining fear.

Olujimi, represented by the Vice President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone B, Ronke Samo, stated this at a one-day workshop on the theme: “Building Female Journalists Capacity for Leadership” at the Deji Ayelabowo Hall, Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES), Ilokun, Ado- Ekiti.

The workshop, supported by the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism Under report Women Leadership Project was in collaboration with BSES and Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).

Samo implored female Journalists in to break boundaries and strive for the best irrespective of challenges.

According to her, “When an opportunity is giving to you, take it and use it. We shouldn’t just admire the positions we should strive and achieve it.

“We are not struggling to get to the top, we only like to applaud others instead of standing out and doing what we should do.

“Go beyond applauding, strive for the top and grab it.” She said

Also, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr Peju Babafemi, tasked female Journalists to embrace unity and peace for the development of women across cadres in Ekiti.

While commending the Convener, Abimbola Adegboyega for organising the Workshop, which according to her would foster cordial relationship among female Journalists in the state, the former Head of Service encouraged them to always strive for the best irrespective of their challenges.

She added that the State government under the leadership of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, has developed a work plan to empower women across cadres, while imploring their male counterparts to support them in order to achieve attainable heights.

In her words “The program is a good one for female reporters because when women occupy leadership positions, women are great managers, both at the home front and in public space, we have unique opportunities.

“Gone are the days where women are their own worst enemies, today, we synergize, felicitate and rejoice with one another, we cry together at times when we need to cry together and that is the joy of being a woman.”

The Chairperson of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Ekiti State, Alhaja Fatima Bello noted that Journalists are the watchdogs and champions of truth and transparency, adding that female journalists have faced various challenges in rising to leadership positions.

Bello tasked female Journalists to explore the significance of empowering women in Journalism, adding that Ekiti State NAWOJ has been at the forefront, giving women opportunities to tell their stories and equipping them with the necessary skills for survival.

On his part, the General Manager, BSES, Olu Popoola acknowledged the organization’s belief in gender sensibility, noting that every woman count.

He stated that women experience various challenges as regards participation in leadership, identifying personal will as the only pedestal to get them to the top.

He urged the women to ignore what the society says about them, rather they should strive to make their aspiration a reality.

The Convener of the Program, Abimbola Adegboyega, disclosed that her passion for Journalism and the need to make female reporters gain the recognition as their male counterparts, fueled her decision to promote gender balance and become a fellow of the organisation.

She also hailed the support received from the Woke Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism in collaboration with BSES and NAWOJ, for working together and making the Workshop a success.