Women Centre Partners NUJ FCT On Promotion Of Women-focused Initiatives, Journalists’ Capacity 

The Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) has entered into a partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Federal Capital Territory (NUJ FCT) Council to develop a framework for joint advocacy, media engagement, public enlightenment and the promotion of women-focused initiatives.

The partnership also covers periodic training sessions, media roundtables, and knowledge-sharing engagements to equip journalists with the information and skills required to report on women’s economic empowerment, leadership, gender-based violence, education, and social inclusion with accuracy, sensitivity, and depth.

The development emerged when the Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, paid a courtesy call on the Director-General of MBNCWD, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

In her remarks, Adedayo formally invited the NUJ FCT Council to become a strategic media partner in advancing the Centre’s mandate and strengthening the national movement for women’s empowerment.

She said women’s discussions must be intentional, hence the need to make women’s development a consistent national conversation, and urged the Council to mobilise its members across media platforms to give greater visibility to the issues, opportunities and achievements that shape the lives of women.

“Let us take the voices of women to the centre of public discourse. Together, we can develop platforms that spotlight women entrepreneurs, rural women, young innovators, women with disabilities, community leaders and other women whose contributions often go unrecognised. Their stories must not remain unheard, and their challenges must not remain invisible.

“Let us institutionalise accountability and measure our progress. I propose that both institutions designate focal persons to coordinate our engagement, identify priority activities and review progress periodically.

“We should be able to look back at the end of each agreed period and point to specific achievements: programmes implemented, women reached, stories published, public awareness raised and opportunities created,” Adedayo stated.

She emphasised that the partnership must be reciprocal; hence, the Centre will provide access to relevant information, technical expertise, programme updates, and opportunities for meaningful engagement with women and communities.

The former Mandate Secretary of the FCT Administration Women Affairs Secretariat also called on the NUJ FCT Council to bring its professional reach, journalistic expertise, and public communication platforms to bear on the advancement of women.

“Let us build a relationship in which the media is not merely invited to cover our activities but is actively engaged in shaping the conversations, strengthening public understanding and promoting accountability for women’s development.

“My challenge to us today is simple: let this visit produce a partnership that we can demonstrate, a programme of action that we can implement, and results that Nigerian women can experience.

“I therefore invite Comrade Grace Ike and her team to join us in translating today’s engagement into an actionable roadmap, beginning with the identification of priority areas, the designation of institutional focal persons and the development of a schedule for our first joint activities,”she added.

While congratulating Ike on her emergence as the first female chairman of the NUJ FCT Council after over 40 years of the council’s existence, Adedayo announced that her fame will be recognised in the Aisha Babangida Nigeria Women’s Hall of Fame.

“It is no ordinary coincidence that our great Grace as the first female chairman is here at the National Centre for Women’s Development, where the Aisha Babangida Nigeria Women Hall of Fame centres women of first records for national celebration.

“You can be certain that when the next representations are being inaugurated into the Hall of Fame, your fame will be represented,” she disclosed.

Earlier, the NUJ FCT Council Chairman declared a partnership with the Centre in line with the theme: “Women in Journalism: Centring Women’s Stories, Voices and Contributions for National Development.”

Comrade Ike said Nigerian women have helped shape Nigeria’s families, economy, culture and democracy, yet many of these contributions remain undocumented, poorly archived or absent from the national story.

“We also wish to use this opportunity to explore meaningful ways of building a strategic partnership between the media and the Centre in advancing women’s development, empowerment and inclusion in Nigeria.

“As journalists, we recognise our responsibility to amplify women’s voices, showcase their achievements, highlight the challenges they face and promote conversations that advance equal opportunities and greater participation in national development.

“We equally recognise the important role of the Centre in promoting women’s welfare, empowerment and advancement. We believe that stronger collaboration between our institutions will help bring these efforts closer to the public, deepen awareness and generate greater support for policies and programmes that improve the lives of women and girls,” she said.

Ike said the Council was also interested in initiatives that will strengthen the capacity of women journalists, promote professional development and encourage greater female representation in leadership positions within the media industry and other sectors.

“We propose a practical and sustained partnership between women in media and the Centre, including: regular features, interviews and programmes on women’s leadership, enterprise, innovation and community impact.

“Collaboration on documenting the histories; intergenerational dialogues that bring veteran women leaders, emerging professionals and young girls into one conversation; public conversations on women’s economic empowerment, digital inclusion, leadership, health, safety and rights.

“Inclusive coverage that brings grassroots women and women with disabilities into national conversations, joint capacity-building for women journalists on ethical, gender-sensitive and development-focused reporting,” she said.

Ike also announced the designation of a liaison to work with the Centre and coordinate their engagement, while reiterating journalists’ commitment to regular reporting on women’s contributions, development priorities, and the implementation of policies that affect women.

She also proposed a follow-up meeting with the Centre’s leadership to agree on a realistic and manageable programme of joint activities.

The NUJ FCT chairman congratulated the Director-General on her appointment and commended her leadership and the Centre’s commitment to championing women’s development.

Also speaking, the Director of Training and Development at the Centre, Ebi Emezue, commended the Directors-General for the changes they had brought to the agency, particularly for providing accessibility for the disability community, saying the partnership with the NUJ FCT would fast-track the execution of MBNCWD’s mandate.