Women’s Voices Must Shape National Discourse, Benjamins-Laniyi Tells Journalists

The Director‑General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins‑Laniyi, says sustained collaboration between the Centre and the media could help amplify women’s voices, improve public understanding of women‑focused policies and strengthen accountability for programmes that improve the lives of women and girls.

Dr. Benjamins‑Laniyi made the call at the weekend during a courtesy visit by the NUJ FCT Council, led by Council Chair Comrade Grace Ike, in Abuja.

She said journalists play a critical role in shaping public understanding of women’s development, advocating for policy change, and amplifying the experiences of women and girls.

She proposed periodic training sessions, media roundtables and knowledge‑sharing engagements to equip reporters with the skills and information needed to cover issues such as women’s economic empowerment, leadership, gender‑based violence, education and social inclusion.

While congratulating Comrade Grace Ike as the first female chair of the NUJ FCT Council in forty‑one years, Dr. Benjamins‑Laniyi stressed the need to strengthen journalists’ capacity to report women’s issues with greater accuracy, sensitivity and depth.

“Let us invest in the capacity of journalists to report gender issues responsibly and effectively,” she said.

She added that the proposed partnership should move beyond expressions of goodwill to concrete commitments and measurable outcomes.

“As the 16th Director‑General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, I extend a formal invitation to the NUJ FCT Council to become a strategic media partner in advancing the Centre’s mandate and strengthening the national movement for women’s empowerment,” Dr. Benjamins‑Laniyi said.

She called for a formal media‑partnership framework to guide joint advocacy, public enlightenment, media engagement and the promotion of women‑focused initiatives, and urged that women’s development be a consistent part of national discourse rather than being limited to occasions such as International Women’s Day.

She said issues affecting women — and particularly women with disabilities should receive sustained attention across print, broadcast and digital platforms throughout the year.

The director‑general also called for platforms that would give greater visibility to women entrepreneurs, rural women, young innovators, women with disabilities and community leaders whose contributions often receive limited public attention.

She proposed that the Centre and the NUJ FCT designate focal persons to coordinate their engagement, identify priority activities and periodically review progress.

“We should be able to look back at the end of each agreed period and point to specific achievements: programmes implemented, women reached, stories published, public awareness raised and opportunities created,” she said.

Dr. Benjamins‑Laniyi said the partnership should also involve the media in shaping public conversations on women’s development, rather than merely inviting journalists to cover the Centre’s activities.

“The Centre has a mandate to empower women. The media has the power to amplify that mandate. Together, we can turn that power into progress,” she said.

Earlier, Comrade Grace Ike said the NUJ FCT Council visited the Centre to declare a “partnership of purpose” focused on placing women’s stories, voices and contributions at the centre of national development.

Comrade Ike, the first female chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, congratulated Dr. Benjamins‑Laniyi on her appointment as the Centre’s 16th director‑general and said the council was ready to collaborate with the institution.

She noted that Nigerian women have contributed significantly to the country’s families, economy, culture and democracy, but many of their contributions remain undocumented or poorly represented in the national narrative.

“Our theme is: Women in Journalism: Centring Women’s Stories, Voices and Contributions for National Development,” she said.

Comrade Ike urged the media to amplify women’s voices, showcase their achievements, highlight challenges affecting them and promote conversations that advance equal opportunities and participation in national development.

She identified the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame, located within the Centre, as an important platform for preserving the contributions of Nigerian women.

She said the NUJ was willing to work with the Centre to document and tell women’s stories in ways that inspire younger generations, particularly girls and young women.

The NUJ FCT chairman also called for greater attention to grassroots and rural women, women in informal employment, women with disabilities and young women whose contributions often receive little media attention.

She proposed regular features, interviews and programmes on women’s leadership, enterprise, innovation and community impact, as well as intergenerational dialogues involving veteran women leaders, emerging professionals and young girls.

Other areas proposed by the NUJ FCT include public conversations on women’s economic empowerment, digital inclusion, leadership, health, safety and rights, and joint capacity‑building programmes for journalists on ethical and gender‑sensitive reporting.

Comrade Ike said female journalists should also be given greater opportunities for professional development and leadership within the media industry.

She urged journalists to ensure women are visible in coverage of governance, the economy, technology, security, education, health, climate change, culture and other issues shaping Nigeria.

“Women are not merely beneficiaries of policy. They are experts, employers, innovators, caregivers, peacebuilders, taxpayers, voters, traders, farmers, researchers and leaders,” she said.

“Our reporting should connect women to information, opportunities, services and decision making spaces. It should explain policies in clear language, expose barriers, highlight practical solutions and follow up on whether commitments improve women’s lives.” she added

The post Women’s Voices Must Shape National Discourse, Benjamins-Laniyi Tells Journalists appeared first on THE AUTHORITY NEWS.