Media event, Special report

HOPE RENEWED AS FORUM BOUYS CHRISTIAN MEDIA ENTREPRENEURS TO KEEP THE FAITH, AIM FOR EXCELLENCE

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By Tobi Oyetunde

In order to remain relevant and to fulfil the mandate and purpose of impactful reporting, Christian media entrepreneurs, publishers, writers and journalists have been enjoined to prioritize their faith in God and strive for excellence in the media industry.

The call came from Olawale Perfect, Chief Executive Officer of WiGRadio; Gbenga Osinaike, Publisher of Church Times; and Blessing Oladunjoye, Publisher of BONEWS, among others at a virtual forum organised by the Christian Press Association of Nigeria (CPAN).

The discussants, who provided diverse perspectives of their work as Christian media entrepreneurs noted that coverage of Christian news should not be limited to reporting on pastors and church events, but should also report on other issues that are important to the Christian Faith

The session, which focused on insight, lessons and testimonies in pursuing the vision and passion for media ministry, was moderated by Sanmi Falobi, Chair of CPAN interim Management committee and Managing Editor at SUCCESSTACT.

In a compelling testimony, Mr Olawale Perfect, who pioneered WiGradio, one of Nigeria’s foremost online/internet radio stations, shared his journey into the media landscape.

According to him, his journey into media was a divine calling received during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year. He said that he initially wanted to be a lecturer, but God led him into the media.

“When we started, the journey of internet radio was actually something new and I realised that there were very few people in the field of online radio and so there was a need for me to do a lot of research.

“I graduated with a first class in biochemistry, and the thought on my mind was that I wanted to be a lecturer and my lecturers really wanted me to come back to the school. So, when I went for my NYSC, I began to pray and to ask God what I was to do and God began to lay it on my heart that he had an assignment for me in the media, even though I did not have my origin in the media initially. So I then went to the University of Lagos, and I did a post-graduate diploma in mass communication and from there I began to see one or two opportunities to do one or two things in radio.

Wale Perfect

“God began to lay to my heart that the next phase is, you need to start your own radio station. And I was like, it is either God does not know what it takes to start a radio station in Nigeria, or maybe someone is trying to deceive me, most likely I’m trying to deceive myself because by my estimate, to start a radio station in Nigeria, you need not less than 40 million. So I was praying and fasting and one of those days while I was fasting, it just came to my heart, I can’t really explain it, but there should be a way that radio can operate over the Internet.

“We started one of the first online radio in Nigeria then, and gradually, we began to move it step by step and we began to see results with time such that within a short period of time, we were able to reach about 126 countries,” Perfect narrated.

Reflecting on the challenges faced, Perfect emphasized the importance of faith, prayer, and innovative thinking in overcoming obstacles not only in the media but in life generally.

Mr Gbenga Osinaike, who also shared his experience as a publisher, said he was motivated to start a church newspaper because he noticed that newspapers hardly reported church events and Christian news except it is scandalous events that involved churches and pastors.

Osinaike, who was an Assistant Editor in Punch newspaper from where he resigned to start Church Times, highlighted the lack of coverage for church events and positive Christian news in mainstream media.

Gbenga Osinaike

Speaking on how he started Church Times, he said, “the idea of Church Times came to me around 2005 when I attended a retreat program and I was wondering, who is documenting this event.

“There was no space, as it were, for Christian news in the mainstream media, it is only when it is negative or scandal that you get pastors mentioned. They were not allowing stories that can edify lives and there are a lot of things happening in the church that were not reported. So the idea came to me that it would be a good idea to start a church newspaper.

“By 2006, the Lord said to me it was time for me to leave and start this thing, but I was really afraid because how do I start a paper when I know that the mortality rate of papers in Nigeria is so high? Those who had money, who had millions were finding it hard and were dying.

“We actually printed the first edition in April 2007.”

Recalling how the journey has been over the years in publishing Church Times, he urged that those pursuing Christian media ventures to spend more time with God rather than look up to people for support.  He also urged Christian journalists to be ethical and professional in their work. Citing testimonies of God’s providence and favours with which the newspaper have thrived over the years, he warned on the need to put focus and trust in God, rather than some persons because man, as it were would disappoint.

“Don’t depend on yourself and put your faith in people because they will fail. The lesson is to stay with God and depend on him for supply.

“Don’t be under pressure, nobody should define success for you. Let your success be based on what God wants you to do, and remain there.

“Christian publishers can report beats from a Christian point of view. The church papers should not be limited to reporting pastors and church events, it is a wide field,” the Church Times Publisher added.

Ms Blessing Oladunjoye, who shared her experience of starting a news platform that focuses on women, children and persons with disabilities, said her platform started from a blog during her days in the tertiary institution and evolved into a news platform in 2018.

Oladunjoye highlighted the importance of professional experiences, especially in reporting on women and persons with disabilities, in shaping the platform’s niche.

She said, “I created it on blogspot.com and it was called Blessing Oladunjoye Community News as of the time. Sometimes, in 2018, I had an encounter with someone, a senior colleague within this space, who just said, ‘you are doing well with what you’re writing. We checked the rating on alexa.com and it was ranked. So, he felt and said that if the website could be ranked because of the content you put in, and just you as of the time, I think you should register it.”

Blessing Oladunjoye

She noted that in determining the focus of what niche to pursue, she had to do a scan of the available potentials and opportunities.

“To determine what BONews will be doing, as of that time, I had worked with Women Radio, which is a women’s radio station which focuses specifically on women’s issues, I had worked with an NGO called CEE Hope Nigeria with focus on child rights issues in informal communities and at that time also, I was interacting with members of the disability community. And so due to my experience back then in school with the challenges and experiences that persons with disabilities encounter, I feel like why not just create a niche within this space because I’ve gathered some form of experience reporting these issues. So I then decided to officially register BONews Service in 2018 and started publishing content on children, women and persons with disabilities.”

Noting that running BOnews as an independent outfit was challenging, she said that she had to find sources of sustenance from other media and journalism-related tasks on a personal level, in order to fund the operations of BOnews.

“Of course, there are numerous challenges and there are issues. I had asked myself, am I sure I should be doing this, am I sure I should do that, but then, the tenacity, being focused over the years really made me realise that it pays a lot, it pays to do this.”

The award-winning and journalism Fellow noted that though there were challenges faced, she encouraged aspiring journalists to persevere, stay focused, and find fulfilment in reporting on critical issues. She also spoke of the need for journalists to be creative and innovative in their work.

In adding to the discourse, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director of Media Career Development Network, emphasised the importance of fostering international connections and collaborating with both local and global colleagues.

Otufodunrin encouraged Christian journalists to actively engage in events and participate to unlock new opportunities.

Highlighting the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Otufodunrin stressed the necessity of embracing change and exploring innovative approaches in reporting.

Lekan Otufodunrin

“Every day, technology changes, and it is important to see how we can do things differently. As much as possible, let us improve on what we are doing.

“Technology is changing everything and we should see what can be adopted locally and how we can benefit from it. We should always seek to expand and not stick to narrow ways of focus,” Otufodunrin said.

The forum, also received robust engagement during the questions, answers and comments sessions. According to the organisers, the forum is part of the series of capacity development initiatives of CPAN, and to reposition the Association for greater relevance. The Association, which has been in existence for some years is made up of Christian news outlets, publishers, editors, writers and related independent media professionals.  

The audio recording of CPAN forum#2 is accessible @ https://bit.ly/CPANFORUM2 while update about subsequent editions of CPAN forum can be accessed @ bit.ly/CPAN_FORUM

Media event, News brief

Bridging leadership and digital literacy gaps: Ensuring girls are not left behind

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By Tobi Oyetunde

With the advent of ICTs and Artificial intelligence, it is no longer news that technological innovations now drive things. However, the gender inequality parity within the socio-economic domain is also found to exist within the scope and the dynamism of innovative use of information technology.

Thus, it was apt, that as part of efforts to commemorate the 2023 International Girls Day (IGD), that young girls in secondary schools were sensitised and made aware of the need to develop appropriate leadership and digital literacy skills so that they are relevant in the scheme of affairs. This was the underpinning objective of the Initiative for Social Impact and Sustainable Development (ISISD) at an interactive programme held for secondary school girls in Abeokuta, Ogun State, recently.

The interactive session, organised by ISISD with support from Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE) and Innate Communications was centred around the IGD 2023 theme: “Invest in Girls Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being.”

ISISD Coordinator, Funmi Falobi, who was lead facilitator at the event noted that it was imperative to keep encouraging girls so that they are not left behind but motivated and mentored to exhibit potentials that would take them to the top.
“As girls and emerging women, you cannot afford to be pushed aside in the affairs of life, but you must strive to do your best to excel and showcase your potential for a better society”, she said, noting that the theme of the 2023 IGD served as a call for young girls to believe in themselves and brace up for leadership opportunities that would launch them to the global stage. She also challenged them to be digitally savvy in the world of technology that is changing the narratives around the world.

While looking at women who had proved their worth in business, governance, industries and career, Falobi enjoined the girls not to settle for less in life.
“For the fact that you are girls you are at a disadvantage, but despite the challenges facing girls, you must be motivated to be great in life. Women are doing great in various fields of endeavour including politics, so don’t let anything limit you. Don’t let anyone shut you down in achieving your goals,” she charged

Looking at the ancient city of Abeokuta and the impact of great women from the historic town in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general, the girls were enjoined not to be discouraged but weather the storm to be great.

“Ogun State has produced great women with great impact in Nigeria and Africa. It is important to learn from this. Face your studies, have role models and mentors and this will help you greatly in attaining your full potential in life. You are a leader, don’t let anyone look down on you or limit your vision,” Falobi said.

She also encouraged the girls to look into taking up career in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) saying, “this are areas girls don’t delve into. As the world is now a global village as a result of technology, it is important girls are not left behind but encouraged to take interest in digital literacy to bridge the gap.”

At the interactive programme, the girls explained that some of the challenges they face include inadequate parental attention, bullying, low self-esteem, lack of encouragement to pursue their goals among others. They however showed the interest to be great leaders to contribute their quotas in the society.

While commending the organisers for the programme, Mrs. Hannah Adeneye, Head, Vocational Department, Muslim High School, Abeokuta, said girls must not limit themselves but know that the world is waiting for their manifestation.

“There’s nothing boys are doing that you cannot do. They have enlightened us today and I want you to venture into the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics courses. Don’t limit yourself to feminine courses alone. We have women doing great in technology and we want to have more. And I’m sure you have made up your mind to be one of the greatest females in science oriented courses and be great leaders in life,” she advised.

Apart from the interactive session, sanitary pads and educational materials were distributed among the girls.

Special report

Ekiti: Where govt officials renege on following budgetary allocation

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By Emmanuel Ukudolo, Ishaya Ibrahim, Funmi Falobi and Seyi Babalola

There is widespread impunity in Ekiti State with misappropriation of public funds. Government officials seem to have made it a habit of dipping their hands into the public purse and spending at will without recourse to the budget in five Local Government Areas.

Auditor General of Local Governments in Ekiti State, Dr. Iyadunni Victoria Oke made allusion to  these breaches in the audit certificate she presented on Ekiti West Local Government Area, Ijero Local Government Area, Ikere Local Government Area, Ilejemeje Local Government Area and Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, where she posited that her observations reflect a true and fair view of the local government areas as at 31st December, 2022.

Investigations into the books of Ekiti West Local Government Area revealed that these breaches occurred in overhead cost, transfer and purchase of assets, overshooting the budget by almost half of the amount budgeted, without a supplementary approval by the local government approving authorities.

Ekiti State Governor
LGAs in Ekiti State

For instance, in Overhead Cost, the total budget for the year ended 2022 was N81, 480, 000 but Ekiti West Local Government Area spent N122, 931, 602.00, exceeding the budget by a total of N41, 451, 602.00. 
Items captured in the Overhead Cost include maintenance services, transport,  grant, SUBEB Overhead,  fuel and lubricants,  training and human development, field overhead expenses, professional services,  miscellaneous expenses,  material supplies, Iyaloja Imprest and general utility.

Under transfer to other government entities, the total budget for the year 2022 was  N1,025,000,000 but what was spent without supplementary approval was N1,577,252,389.63, overshooting the year 2022 budget by  N552, 252, 389.63. As usual there is no supplementary budget to approve the excess based on the impunity which seems to have eaten deep into Ekiti West LGA.
Items captured under transfer include pension and gratuity,  SUBEB staff salary,  Security fund,  Parastatals and agencies, Peace Corps, Ekameta LCDA, Okemesi /Ido-Ile LCDA and  Special Rates with JAAC.

For Purchase of Assets, the total  appropriation for the Year  was  N74,000,000 but what was spent without budgetary approval was N71,031, 304.90, again exceeding the budget by  N2, 968, 695.10 kobo.
Items covered under this subhead include: land, building, infrastructure,  motor vehicles, plant and machinery, office equipment, furniture and fittings. 

This same trend was replicated in Ijero Local Government Area where budget for overhead cost was N74, 242,000.00  whereas what was spent without budgetary approval was N182, 020, 858.04, surpassing the budget by N107, 778, 858.04 kobo. 

The trend continued in Ikere Local Government Area where no amount was captured in the 2022 budget for Iyaloja, yet the local government paid a sum of N155, 256, 935.23 to the Iyaloja of the state. 
To be specific, N300,000 was paid to the Iyaloja as stipend for 12 months, N78, 162, 600 was paid for Iyaloja’s Logistic Security and another N76, 794,335.23 kobo was paid to the same  Iyaloja as Assist/workshop claims without being captured in the 2022  budget. 

Ikere LGA also overshot the budget for the year 2022  in transfer to other government agencies.  For instance, the total budget for transfer in the affected year was N414, 358,322, whereas what was spent was N1, 144,  077, 709.55, exceeding the budget by N729, 719, 387.55 kobo almost N1 billion.  In fact, the practice of overshooting the budget was carried over from the year ended 2021.

In fact the Ikere Local Government Area is so neck deep in impunity in the area of allowances also. For the year 2022, the budget captured N11, 500,000.00 for allowances but government officials spent N91, 179, 621.79 on allowances, exceeding what was provided for in the budget by N79, 679, 621.79 kobo. 

Ilejemeje Local Government Area is not left out in the mess pervading almost all the local  government areas in Ekiti State. For instance, under transfer to other government agencies, the Local government budgeted N543, 300, 000 for transfer to other government agencies, whereas  what was spent out of budgetary approval was N970, 836,  332.94 kobo, overreaching appropriation for the year by N348,  956, 892.52 kobo.

The cankerworm also spilled over to Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area under the subhead of Salary payment for the year ended December 31, 2022.  The Local Government Area  budgeted N1,158, 724, 854.72 kobo, whereas it spent N 1,818, 764, 568.38 kobo, consequently spending  a whooping N660,039, 713.66 without budgetary approvals. 


The same holds true for social contributions, where the sum of N6, 550,000 was approved for the local government but as a result of inherent impunity, officials of the local government  spent N56,512, 399.11 kobo without any supplementary consent.
The same level of executive lawlessness was exhibited in overhead cost, where  the total budget  approved for the local government under the subhead was N60,  290, 000, whereas officials of the local government went ahead to spend N101, 471, 297.67 Kobo, exceeding what is approved by  N41, 181, 297.67 kobo. 

This financial lawlessness was also carried further to the subhead, transfer of other government entities, where N530, 000,000 was approved in the budget but what was spent for the year was N762,  718, 354.54 kobo, exceeding approval by N68, 285, 303.45 kobo. The same trend holds  true for allowance and others.

Reacting to this  ugly development, Chairman, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) , Ekiti State, Mrs. Funmi Alonge, said the local government officers involved should be called to explain what happened if there is no virement.
“If there is no virement, then they should be called to explain. Ideally, they should not have spent beyond their budgetary allocation,” she said in a telephone interview with one of our team members.  

She said although inflationary trends could sometimes lead to spending beyond budgetary allocation, but that when such happens, officers who dispense such funds must provide a clear explanation for the gap. 

 “Most times, the amount allocated and funds expected do not match and the cost of things are also increasing. For instance, if you budgeted N3, 000 on fueling before, look at the cost of fuel now. If you budgeted N189 per litre, look at it today. So, the amount budgeted will be at variance because the cost of things are escalating every day, and unfortunately, the revenue remains the same. But there should be a system for explanation. Once something is very wide like that, it calls for questioning. The officer in-charge should have been called to explain the reason for the gap.” 

In his reaction, Policy and Research Officer at Corporate Accountability, Advocacy and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Zikora Ibeh said the practice of local governments in Nigeria spending beyond their budgetary allocations indicates a deficiency in due process and weak financial management and oversight structures. 

“This pattern poses a significant threat to the financial health of any state and fosters fiscal indiscipline, leading to financial mismanagement, misappropriation, and the potential rise in public debt as governments may need to borrow to cover deficits. This prevalent issue across multiple local governments in the country is also the reason why local authorities are unable to finance capital projects, undermining economic development and effective governance.”

According to him, when local authorities fail to adhere to their budgets without due process, they undermine public trust and raise concerns about transparency and accountability in their financial management.

“ In the long run, this practice will ultimately destabilise the macroeconomic stability of any state, leading to adverse effects on its development prospects.”

>>Budget Infographics: Innate communications<<

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Financial expert, Tilewa Adebajo warns NASS on danger of securitisation of Ways and Means

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By Funmi Falobi

Financial expert, Mr Tilewa Adebajo has raised concern on the adverse consequences to the economy of the securitisation of Nigeria’s Ways and Means advances.

He noted that such an act by the Senate validates the conversion of Nigeria’s huge Ways and Means indebtedness to further loans as bonds and other securities. “Securitisation means the government now issues treasury bills and bonds to pay off the Ways and Means.”

Securitisation of the Central Bank’s ways and means advances was a feature of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. The Senate approved President Buhari’s request, sources say, without including it in the Order Paper. It was intended to restructure N22.7trn loans which the Federal Government took from the CBN under the ‘Ways and Means Provision.’ Securitisation increased Nigeria’s Debt to GDP ratio to 38.4 per cent in the public debt balance.

“Ways and Means was never supposed to exceed N1 trillion, yet now it has surpassed N30 trillion, which is against section 38 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act. Under Section 38 of the CBN Act, the government is granted the authority to borrow from the apex bank, but such overdraft should not surpass five per cent of the government’s revenue from the previous year. It should also be repaid by the end of the financial year the loan was obtained,” he said.

Speaking at the Audit Reporting Training organised by FrontFoot Media Initiative held in Lagos, Adebajo said that such an action has compounded Nigeria’s indebtedness.

“Ways and Means financing is now 30 times more than is legally allowed. Securitization of Ways and Means is an illegal act. Nigeria’s deficit is increasing annually. Now 95 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue goes for debt service,” he said.

Adebajo noted that while regular citizens cannot do much to stop the spendthrift direction of the Federal and State governments, the media and professional groups should be more active in calling out any misbehaviour and wrong direction.

“Unfortunately, the citizens are too busy struggling with survival. The key responsibility falls on the media and the elite. The elite have compromised. The media are not pulling their weight,” he noted.

While urging the citizens to pay close attention to the country’s financial management, Adebajo advised, “Anytime you have a budget, ask for the audited accounts for the same year. What did you say you would do? What did you really do? What revenue target did you project? What was the actual revenue? What was the expenditure projection? What was actually spent and on what?”

On his part, Emeka Izeze, Director and Partner, FrontFoot Media Initiative said the “Audit Reporting Training: X-Raying State Government Audit Reports” is a flagship capacity development programme.

“It is a targeted training of journalists which we are undertaking under the auspices of the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism and the sponsorship of the MacArthur Foundation,” Izeze asserted.

The Lagos workshop is the fourth in its series to train the media to pay close attention to the audit report for its significance. Earlier workshops were in Benin, Awka, and Abuja.

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Canada Adds Deserving Feather to Environmentalist Nnimmo Bassey’s Clustered Cap

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>By Betty Abah<

On October 13, 2023, York University in Toronto, Canada conferred on Nigeria’s and Africa’s leading environmental advocate, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey an honorary Doctorate of Law in recognition of his environmental advocacy work, writings and general contribution to humanity’s advancement.

The letter from the awarding university reads thus: “In conferring this degree, the Senate of York University wishes to recognize your contributions as an activist, architect, environmentalist, author, and poet. You have enriched academic discourse, shedding light on the complex intersections between environmental degradation, social justice and human rights. As one of Africa’s leading environmental and human rights advocates, your work has had a transformative impact for those who are most negatively impacted by toxic industries, and uncovered solutions to some of the most pressing social-ecological problems currently facing the globe.”

Dr. Bassey, 65, is Nigeria’s most visible environmental advocate and the most outspoken on the debacle of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria where the rich endowment of fossil fuel has morphed into a multileveled resource curse amidst gross environmental degradation of the area in addition to other socioeconomic fallouts of oil find. The trained architect is also an advocate for food security and is a writer, columnist, profuse poet, authoring almost 20 books from poetry, architecture to environmental subjects They include such popular titles as ‘We Thought It Was Oil But it was Blood’ (poetry); ‘To Cook a Continent: Destructive Extraction and the Climate Crisis in Africa’ (environmental discourse) and ‘Living Houses’ (architecture).

Dr. Bassey co-founded and led Nigeria’s foremost environmental rights campaign NGO, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria for two decades before starting ecological think-tank nonprofit, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) a decade ago. He was the first African to lead the global environmental rights group, Friends of the Earth International which he chaired for two terms. He has also founded and led other major organisations including Oil Watch International, Oil Watch Africa and in recent years started Fishnet Alliance, agitating for the human and socioeconomic rights of fisherfolks across Africa. He is on the board of scores of local and international organisations and initiatives.

His profuse pen through which he articulates the planet’s painful plights has also seen him at various literary intersections including being at the leadership of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) as General Secretary in the 1990’s and as a columnist with the The Guardian Newspaper, one of Nigeria’s flagship dailies.

This latest recognition for Akwa Ibom-born Dr. Bassey is just one of several from across the planet, the advocacy for whose wellbeing he has tirelessly undertaken in more than three decades. Some of them include being one of ‘TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influencial Persons of 2009’ (Hero of the Environment); ‘Rights Livelihoods Award’– Sweden (aka Alternative Nobel Laureate)– 2010; ‘The Rafto Prize’ (National human rights honour in Norway)– 2012. He has also been awarded the Nigerian national honour of the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

This honorary award from the Canadian university is the second from a foreign university for Nnimmo as he is popularly known in the local and international activism circles. In 2019 he was similarly honoured with a doctorate degree by the University of York, England.

But what stands Dr. Bassey out for most of us who have been incredibly blessed to work and walk at close proximity with him is his generosity, genuine love for people (one boss who gives wings to his staff, mentees and younger activitists and dreamers in a complex world, continuing to support them long after they have left the organisation or his supervision), humility and untainted integrity. And that’s not to mention his deep sense of humour! An uncommon role model-leader aka the ‘Living Ancestor’ in the words of his countless mentees. For someone rated as one of the five eminent Climate Change activists globally in a documentary some years back, his down-to-earth and accessible nature bear the genuine portrait of a truly profound mind for indeed the greatest are ultimately the humblest.

Nigeria as a country and our generation are indeed blessed to have such an icon to call a son, indeed, an exceptional son of the soil fighting with utmost sincerity and passion to expose the destructive impacts of the extractive industry and other big corporate abusers, for a right to natural food for all and giving voice to the oppressed and voiceless majority across the remotest parts of Nigeria, Africa, South Ameria, and indeed across the globe, and with countless results to show. Here is a man who could today be addressing the European Parliament, or the USA Senate or leading a global group of activitists on a rally at an international conference on the streets of Copenhagen, interacting with youngsters in a Finland settlement and in the next couple of days is interacting so naturally with fishermen and women whose fishing routes or farms have been polluted in Ikarama community, Bayelsa State, or catching a joke with local chiefs or a group of young mentees in Makoko settlement in Lagos.

Towering Nnimmo (six-foot-four), married to the amiable Evelyn, herself also an architect and blessed with three sons, is simply an enigma. These global recognitions are not one bit a surprise for anyone who knows the workaholic tea lover. Rather, they are a sure sign of greater things to come for a truly deserving and truly, truly remarkable human!

Go, dear Boss, go!

Ms Abah is a Lagos-based writer and activist, and founder of child’s rights NGO, CEE-HOPE

News brief

IGD2023: WSCIJ urges joint action to protect girls’ rights in Nigeria amid global concerns

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By sdnonline

Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) has called for joint action to protect the rights of girls in Nigeria.

Executive Director/CEO, WSCIJ, Motunrayo Alaka said the 2023 theme for the International Day of the Girl Child, ‘Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being,’ underscores the urgent need to increase investment in girls’ education, health, violence prevention programmes and overall well-being to protect their rights and support them to maximise leadership opportunities.

According to a 2022 UNICEF report, 6 million girls are out of school in Nigeria – 3.9 million at the primary and 3.7 million at the junior secondary levels, implying that over 50 percent of Nigerian girls are not attending school at the basic education levels. Despite the federal Child Rights Act (2003) prohibiting marriage below the age of 18 in Nigeria, 43 percent of teenage girls are married before their 18th birthday, and 16percent are married before the age of 15. Hence, Nigeria ranks among the highest on the African continent for early child marriage, according to the United Nations Development Programme in 2020.

This data validates a recent report from the United Nations – Secretary-General, António Guterres, who mentioned that the world is still 300 years away from ending child marriage and its ripple effect globally is 110 million young women and girls out of school and about 340 million girls and women will face extreme poverty by 2030. This alarming analysis is a clarion call for the media, government, CSOs and other stakeholders to intensify their efforts as champions of equality, equity and inclusivity to protect girls and women’s rights through nuanced investigative reportage, multilevel advocacy and timely sustainable interventions that defend the girl-child and protects her rights to live, learn and dream.

“At the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), we are dedicated to improving the reportage of girls and women-focused issues, empowering female journalists to champion the cause of equality in the news, newsroom and facilitate the evolution of gender policies and practices that affect girls and women representation as leaders. All these and more we continue to support with the Report Women! programme, initiated in 2014,” Alaka said.

She explained that the centre has trained and rewarded female journalists on leadership projects centred on women and girls empowerment. The programme has also produced documentaries and published research reports under the Report Women! Programme on the gender status of news and newsroom leadership, the gender policy and practice in Nigerian newsrooms and assessment of the Report Women! FRLP fellowship. With a forthcoming report on the representation of women in the leadership of news and newsrooms in Nigeria, the centre aims to contribute to a more inclusive media landscape.

“In the upcoming fourth quarter, WSCIJ will launch a website featuring 500 female expert sources across eight sectors, reflecting its commitment to amplifying the voices of women in news and news programmes. We urge everyone, particularly the journalists and media managers, to champion this cause within their spheres of influence, transcending traditional, economic, religious, social, and security-related challenges.

“Together, let us create a future where the rights of the girl child are protected, and opportunities for leadership and growth are accessible to all,” she said.

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IGD2023: Invest in girls leadership rights, digital literacy, ISISD charges govt, stakeholders

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By sdnonline

As the world celebrates the 2023 International Girls’ Day, Initiative for Social Impact and Sustainable Development has called on the government and stakeholders to invest in leadership rights and remove every barrier to digital literacy for girls to be able to compete favourably in the technology age.

Speaking on this year’s theme, “Invest in Girls Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being,” ISISD Coordinator, Funmi Falobi said that girls cannot be left behind in the era of leadership and technology innovation if we want gender equality to thrive.
” No doubt the world now evolves around technology and it is important our girls are not left behind in this innovative drive to thrive and fulfil their potential.
We must invest in leadership rights for girls and they must be encouraged to take up leadership roles early in life which will boost societal well being.
“Although we have reached a point that we recognise this day as International Girls’ Day, much still needs to be done to improve lives for girls”, she added.

She noted that digital literacy will enable girls to use digital platforms and resources to find, evaluate, and obtain information which would help students become lifelong learners and help to engage them in the process of acquiring academic skills as well as stay connected and be informed about the things that are revolving around society.

“Digital literacy enhances both formal and informal learning, and it is of great importance that young girls are capacitated with digital literacy information so that they are empowered and their confidence and self-esteemed is boosted in decision-making, and healthy-conscious living, among others.”

Falobi however noted that as good as technology is to the good of all, there are some challenges with it, which may be inimical to the growth and development of the girl child.
“Investing in the rights of girls helps to boost their leadership skills and their well-being. While technology brings an open window for development of potential of the girl child, care should be taken to guide the girl child from being a victim of manipulated tendencies through online gender-based violence”, Falobi warned.

International Day of the Girl Child is an annual and internationally recognised observance on October 11 that empowers girls and amplifies their voices. Like its adult version, International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, International Day of the Girl Child acknowledges the importance, power, and potential of adolescent girls by encouraging the opening up of more opportunities for them. At the same time, this day is designated to eliminate gender-based challenges that little girls face around the world, including child marriages, poor learning opportunities, violence, and discrimination.

Media event

Call for interest: Training on Gender Mainstreaming

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By Tobi Oyetunde (Freelance Correspondent).

Journalists and media professionals are invited to register as participants at a one-day virtual training to engage journalists on how to integrate gender perspective into their investigative reports.

The virtual training will be led by Juliana Francis, an award-winning investigative journalist as part of Report Women News and Newsroom Engagement Project implemented by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The training will provide journalists with the skills and knowledge needed to mainstream gender into investigative reporting.

To facilitate the training alongside Francis are Olufunke Fayemi, Chief Producer of Voice of Nigeria, and Blessing Oladunjoye, Publisher of BONews while Abosede Adeniran-Aderemi of TVC shall moderate the programme.

The one-day virtual training is scheduled for Friday, October 13, 2023 at 11:00am WAT.

The training is open to all journalists, regardless of their level of experience.

To apply to attend the training, please register through this link: http://bit.ly/JulianaFrancisTraining

… Enhancing socio-economic and sustainable development issues & initiatives.