The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration with diplomatic missions in Nigeria to advance women’s empowerment, gender inclusion, and leadership participation.
This position was articulated at a luncheon hosted by the Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Sanna Selin, in honour of female ambassadors serving in the country. The event brought together women diplomats and stakeholders to foster dialogue on issues affecting women and girls.
The Chairperson of NAWOJ FCT Chapter, Comrade Bassey Ita-Ikpang, attended the event alongside members of the association. The luncheon provided a platform for relationship building, experience sharing, and constructive engagement, with discussions exploring opportunities for future collaboration.
Female ambassadors from Germany, Sweden, Botswana, Cuba, and other diplomatic missions participated in the engagement. Deliberations focused on women’s economic empowerment, climate resilience, social protection, political participation, and the urgent need to address gender-based violence.
Speaking at the event, Comrade Ita-Ikpang expressed appreciation to Ambassador Selin for the invitation and commended Finland’s strong global leadership in promoting gender equality and inclusive development.
She described NAWOJ as a professional network of women journalists across Nigeria’s 36 states, supported by a proactive national leadership committed to amplifying the voices of women and girls, strengthening public-interest journalism, and simplifying public policies to enhance grassroots engagement and accountability.
According to her, the FCT Chapter comprises over 350 women journalists working across print, broadcast, and online media platforms nationwide. She noted that NAWOJ plays a strategic role in bridging the gap between government institutions, development partners, and citizens through credible and ethical journalism.
Highlighting the association’s grassroots engagement, the NAWOJ FCT Chairperson recalled the group’s collaboration with the Association of Wives of Traditional Rulers during the last International Women’s Day celebration in the FCT, which targeted rural communities with advocacy on women’s rights and health.
Looking ahead, she announced plans for major public engagement activities in 2026, including programmes to be implemented in partnership with the German Embassy, reflecting NAWOJ’s growing engagement with the diplomatic community.
Comrade Bassey also appealed for support in capacity building initiatives for female journalists, particularly in mobile journalism and the application of artificial intelligence in digital content creation. She said such training would enhance competitiveness, promote economic empowerment, and strengthen women’s leadership in the digital economy.
She assured the diplomats that NAWOJ FCT remains committed to amplifying the development programmes of diplomatic missions, spotlighting advocacy initiatives, and supporting evidence-based campaigns through responsible and impactful journalism.
In their remarks, Ambassador Selin and other female ambassadors thanked NAWOJ for the engagement and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting women’s leadership, inclusive governance, and gender equality in Nigeria.
Participants at the luncheon unanimously stressed the need for stronger female representation in governance and leadership, noting that current figures remain below United Nations targets for gender inclusion.
The engagement marked a significant step in strengthening relations between NAWOJ and the diplomatic community, laying a solid foundation for sustained collaboration aimed at advancing the rights, opportunities, and voices of women and girls across Nigeria.
