Media practitioners on Tuesday at a workshop organized by an investigative journalist and staff of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State, Mrs Abimbola Adegboyega discussed on how Journalism profession can be utilized in tacking the menace of Sexual and Gender Based Violence SGBV and the aftermath in the society.
Journalists were charged to pay attention to reporting SGBV.
Mrs Adegboyega who is the Convener of the worksop said
“Today what we now have is influx of Media houses be it Print or Broadcast media or even online media, now the issue of content and retainership of audience comes in, until we focus more attention on investigative stories in which issues around SGBV are part of, we are going nowhere.
“Let me say this, a good journalist must be inquisitive, she must know what is happening in her environment. We must be familiar with the country’s criminal justice system on the issue of SGBV against women and girls, so we can report effectively.
“Let us pay attention to investigative stories on SGBV, it is not only men that beat women, women also beat their spouses. Let us be inquisitive and let us change the narrative by enriching our platforms with stories that can change the society. If I wasn’t inquisitive and curious, I won’t know that teenage pregnancy is rampant in Ekiti as of today.” She said.
The training was supported by Wole soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism under the Report Women News and Newsroom Engagement and Global support for Kids Initiative (GSK initiative) in partnership with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ,Ekiti state chapter and the Broadcasting service of Ekiti state,BSES.
The NAWOJ Chairperson Mrs Fatima Bello in her keynote address encouraged Journalists to educate teenagers on sexual matters through their medium.
She said:
“As Journalists, we should encompass the need for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and rights of young people to promote sound health, reduce unwanted pregnancy and lower the rate of school dropouts.
“Journalists should work with other relevant stakeholders through various programs and policies to increase teenagers knowledge about sex education, adolescent health as well as aggressively sustaining adequate redress of reported cases of sexual assault on teenagers.” She said.
The workshop attended by Journalists also had in attendance an investigative reporter with Radio Nigeria, Fisoye Adenitan and the former Principal of school of Nursing Ado-Ekiti, Dr Theresa Bamigboye as guest speakers.