The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has reaffirmed its commitment to forging stronger partnerships with diplomatic missions in Nigeria to advance women’s empowerment.
The association made this known during a recent luncheon hosted by the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Sanna Selin, in honour of female ambassadors serving in the country.
The Chairperson of NAWOJ FCT Chapter, Comrade Bassey Ita-Ikpang, and members of the association attended the event, which served as a platform for networking, experience sharing, and constructive discussions on issues affecting women and girls.
Female ambassadors from countries including Germany, Sweden, Botswana, and Cuba participated, engaging in conversations on economic empowerment, climate resilience, social protection, political participation, and the fight against gender-based violence.
Ita-Ikpang thanked the Finnish Ambassador for the invitation and praised Finland’s global leadership in promoting gender equality and inclusive development.
She described NAWOJ as a professional network of women journalists across Nigeria’s 36 states, guided by proactive national leadership dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and girls.
She highlighted the association’s commitment to public-interest journalism and efforts to simplify public policies for greater grassroots engagement and accountability.
The FCT Chapter alone comprises over 350 women journalists working across print, broadcast, and online media platforms nationwide.
Ita-Ikpang emphasized NAWOJ’s strategic role in bridging gaps between government institutions, development partners, and citizens through ethical and credible journalism.
Recalling past initiatives, she cited NAWOJ’s partnership with the Association of Wives of Traditional Rulers during the last International Women’s Day celebrations in the FCT, which focused on rural communities and advocacy on women’s rights and health.
Looking ahead, she announced plans for major public engagement programmes in 2026, including projects in collaboration with the German Embassy, reflecting NAWOJ’s growing ties with the diplomatic community.
She also called for support in capacity-building initiatives for female journalists, particularly in mobile journalism and the use of artificial intelligence in digital content creation, highlighting the potential to enhance competitiveness, economic empowerment, and women’s leadership in the digital economy.
Ita-Ikpang assured the diplomats that NAWOJ FCT would continue to amplify development programmes of diplomatic missions, spotlight advocacy initiatives, and support evidence-based campaigns through responsible and impactful journalism.
In their remarks, Ambassador Selin and other female ambassadors commended NAWOJ for the engagement and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting women’s leadership, inclusive governance, and gender equality in Nigeria.
Participants stressed the need to strengthen female representation in governance and leadership, noting that current figures remain below United Nations targets for gender inclusion.
The luncheon strengthened the collaboration between NAWOJ and the diplomatic community and set the stage for sustained joint efforts to expand opportunities, representation, and voices for women and girls across the country.