35 Taraba Women Journalists Benefit From US Embassy Sponsored Capacity Building Training The capacity-building training for the female journalists in Taraba State was organised by the Organization For Innovation and Sustainable Development (OISD), and sponsored by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Embassy in Nigeria. The training which had the theme “She Exists” Promoting Equity and Equal Opportunities for Women in Media” held in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

Women journalists from different media outlets in the State were participants in the 3-day training, which targets breaking barriers, hindrances, stereotypes, and the limitations faced by women in the media profession, through building their self-confidence and skills. The lead resource person tasked the participants to promote more women-related content in their media organizations and also charged them with raising the bar on reporting the plight of women and children in the Northeast objectively.

In his words “The goal is to increase women content in our various outlets by 35% in the next 12 months, and that can only be done when women are trained and equipped with the right knowledge.”

The resource person also highlighted the issues of equality and equity for women in the media, allowing them to attain great heights in the media profession, as women are in a better position to tell their stories. He tasked participants at the training to ensure that they step down the knowledge they gained to other female media practitioners.

Other resource persons at the training such as Tom Garba, and Leslie Jonah took turns to mentor the female journalists on how to overcome the many challenges that women journalists face in Northeast Nigeria.

Mrs Dinatu Danjuma who is the chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Taraba State chapter said the training couldn’t have come at a better time, as female journalists in the Northeast are faced with various forms of challenges that threaten their ability to practice efficiently.

Taraba women journalists are the second to benefit from the U.S Sponsored Capacity Building Training, with Adamawa as the first.  The training is expected to extend to women journalists in other Northeast States, which are Gombe, Bauchi, Yobe, and Borno States.