By Ikenwa Charity
After achieving numerous successes within her first three years as the President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ladi Bala deserves to be re-elected for a second term.
In 2021, she campaigned on four key goals:
1. Elevating NAWOJ’s visibility and restoring its credibility among respected members of society.
2. Improving member capacity through training programs.
3. Establishing an office for daily NAWOJ operations.
4. Acquiring land for building a permanent NAWOJ Secretariat.
Ladi Bala has remained true to these promises in 2023 by keeping the social contract signed with NAWOJIANS.
TRAININGS
Women journalists from across the country participated in various forms of training including:
1. Gender-sensitive reporting
2. Verification techniques
3. Digital storytelling
4. Fact-checking methods
5. Reporting on electoral processes
6. Sexual and gender-based violence reporting
7.ENGAGEMENT WITH DONOR AGENCIES
– UNICEF
– ActionAid Nigeria
– UN Women
– Organization for Innovation and Sustainable Development
– She Forum
– Institute for Media and Society
– International Press Center
– Federal Ministry of Women Affairs
– FIDA
GOVERNANCE STRENGTHENING AND OPERATIONS
1.Acquisition of a fully furnished National Secretariat with two employees (Program Officer and Accountant)
2.Reconstitution of Board membership to include people from diverse fields.
3.Conducted first-ever Board meeting at NAWOJ.
4.Developed five-year strategy plan funded by ActionAid Nigeria.
5.Procured relevant documents that strengthened NAWOJ’s structure (SCUML) among others.
6.DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES FOR NAWOJ
*Gender Policy
*Human Resource Policy
*SHEARS Policy
*Financial Policy
* Board Manual
*Recruitment Policy
*Produced Customized Register for State Chapters.
*Produced Customized NAWOJ National Wrappers
Reinstating Ladi Bal for Consolidation and continuity would be a commendable endeavor.
