A former Chairperson of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and the Administrative Secretary of the Ondo Ministry of Information, Mrs Toyin Onisile has charged girls to choose Journalism as a career path, as part of measures to improve more women representation in the media.
Mrs Onisile stated this while addressing young girls at a training program to mark the International Day of the Girl child which held at CAC Grammar School in Akure, Ondo state.
The program which was an initiative of the Report Women Female Reporters Leadership Programme of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) was held to encourage young girls to embrace Journalism as a career path.
The training tagged “Women in Journalism: Encouraging Young girls to Embrace Journalism as a Career Path” was organized to build the interest of secondary school girls to become Journalists, to increase more women participation and representation in the media.
The Guest speaker emphasized the need for girls to be more confident and have passion to become great in life than giving in to peer pressure that would mar their future.
The Administrative Secretary said journalism is a career that’s give opportunity to both male and female, hence the need for the girls to begin to think about their future from this Adolescent stage.
Also speaking, Executive Director of an NGO Mrs Mercy Roland encouraged the girls to stay away from bad influence of friends to make something good out of their lives. She said they need courage and confidence to challenge stereotypes in the society.
Also an OAP at positive FM Akure, Miss Goodness Olorunyolemi said Journalism is a good profession that equip girls and women to further help to amplify the voices of citizens.
She said self-determination and hard work will pave way for girls to excel in the Journalism career if they choose the path
Earlier the Convener of the program, a fellow of the Report Women Fellowship Programme of WSCIJ, Mrs Olufisoye Adenitan said the program was aimed at celebrating girls and building their capacity to challenge stereotypes in the Journalism career.
The Principal of the school, Mrs Pelumi Adetimehin appreciated the gesture and stressed the need for more to be done to influence decision of girls to embrace Journalism Career.