By correspondent in Minna.
Nigerian women have been told to join hands with other critical segment of society in promoting programmes that would encourage more female journalism practitioners and to resist the phenomenal, Pull Her Down (PHD) syndrome that has relegated many of them to the background.
A lecturer at the Federal University of Technoligy (FUT), Minna, Niger state,north central Nigeria,Dr. Valda Itunu Martins, gave the advice in a paper presented at the 2-day Niger Women in the Media Summit which took place at the IBB Pen House, Minna, the state capital.
The don said in as much as women/ladies had not come out to challenge the male as head in homes, a right of place as ordained by God, the situation in today’s world had proved that females had proved their capability in playing complimentary roles
According to the lecturer,they should be given space to contribute to the growth and development of the country.
In a paper entitled, “The Role of the Media in Promoting Gender Mainstreaming”, Valda, who is also the CEO, Succeeding Against All Odds, an NGO, said it is unfortunate that some media organizations show biase when it comes to promoting issues of mutual understanding amongst male and female gender.
Valda, therefore, encouraged women and ladies not to give up, no matter the odds, but continue to serve as role models to up coming practitioners and strive to stand out among equals in whatever journalism platform they found themselves be it Print, Radio, Television or even the online.
The Convener of the media summit, Justina Asishana, earlier, told the gathering that the programme with the theme, “Empowering Women Journalists for Inclusive Reporting and Leadership”, was aimed at encouraging women journalists to aspire for higher heights in the practice.
She said the Summit was sponsored by Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Report Women Network, Centre for Journalism Innovations and Development (CJID), in collaboration with Ashenews
According to her,the exercise was put together to expose the numerous pitfalls women face on the course of carrying out their professional duties and how to overcome the odds.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
