NAWOJ FCT seeks strategic partnerships with diplomatic missions to advance women’s empowerment

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has expressed its readiness to strengthen collaboration with diplomatic missions in Nigeria to promote women’s empowerment, gender inclusion and leadership participation.

This position was articulated at a luncheon hosted by the Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Ms Sanna Selin, in honour of female ambassadors serving in the country. The event was attended by the Chairperson of NAWOJ FCT Chapter, Comrade Bassey Ita-Ikpang, alongside members of the association.

The luncheon provided a platform for networking, experience-sharing and constructive dialogue on issues affecting women and girls, with discussions also exploring future areas of collaboration.

Female ambassadors from several diplomatic missions, including Germany, Sweden, Botswana and Cuba, 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 the Finnish Ambassador for the invitation and commended Finland’s global leadership in advancing 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 dedicated 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 has over 350 women journalists working across print, broadcast and online media platforms nationwide. She noted that NAWOJ plays a critical role in bridging the gap between government institutions, development partners and citizens through credible and ethical journalism.

Highlighting the association’s grassroots outreach, Comrade Ita-Ikpang recalled NAWOJ FCT’s partnership with the Association of Wives of Traditional Rulers during the last International Women’s Day celebrations in the FCT, which targeted rural communities with advocacy on women’s rights and health.

Looking ahead, she disclosed plans for major public engagement activities in 2026, including programmes in partnership with the German Embassy, reflecting NAWOJ’s growing engagement with the diplomatic community.

She also appealed for support in capacity-building initiatives for female journalists, particularly in mobile journalism and the use of artificial intelligence in digital content creation. According to her, such training would enhance competitiveness, promote economic empowerment and strengthen women’s leadership in the digital economy.

Comrade Ita-Ikpang assured the diplomats that NAWOJ FCT remains committed to amplifying the development programmes of diplomatic missions, highlighting 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 levels still fall short of United Nations targets on gender inclusion.

The engagement marked a significant step in strengthening relations between NAWOJ and the diplomatic community, laying the groundwork for sustained collaboration aimed at advancing the rights, opportunities and voices of women and girls across Nigeria.