ImpactHouse Centre for Development Communication (ImpactHouse), and the System Strategy and Policy Lab (SSPL) today Monday 24th June 2024 announced the selection of 27 journalists as fellows for the ‘Change Reporting 2.0 Media Fellowship on Gender Responsive Education Sector Planning (GRESP)’ in Nigeria.
Change Reporting is an ImpactHouse initiative aimed at supporting journalists and other media professionals with the resources that they need to hold the government, including public officials and institutions, accountable as part of their constitutionally guaranteed media responsibility to the Nigerian people.
According to a statement signed by Outreach and Communications of ImpactHouse Chinomso Momoh said the first led of the program held in 2014.
She said this year’s fellowship on GRESP is designed to equip fellows with the advocacy skills to significantly amplify the importance of gender equality within education systems across states and demand action from concerned authorities.
According to her, the Change Reporting 2.0 fellows were selected from Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Oyo, and Sokoto.
Chinomso Momoh further added that the selected journalists
includes Yahuza Bawage of Prime Progress, Obidah Habila of HumAngle, Tasi’u Hassan of NAS FM, and Iniabasi Friday Umo of Daily Trust
Others are Ndifreke Enefiok of The Mail, Mercy Henry Obot of Crystal Express, Charles Agwam of Vanguard, Rauf Oyewole of The Guardian, Ogechukwu Victoria Ujam of WikkiTimes, Adamu Aliyu of Tarayya Media, Jesse Tafida of TVC, Olumide Olugotun of IIR, and Najib Sani of Daylight Reporters
Also selected are Rebecca Caleb Maina of Gombe Media Corporation, Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim of Halal Reporters , Aisha Gambo of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Angela Elue Okafor of Supreme FM, Abubakar Tukur of FRCN, Abubakar Muhammad Usman of Media Trust Group,, Kolawole B. Omoniyi of Cool FM, Wazobia FM, Arewa Radio, Hadiza Musa Yusuf of Prime Time News , Ridwan Adeola Yusuf of Legit.ng
and Lawal Sofiyyat Bolanle of PEN Press
Others are Ibukun Emiola of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Rakiya Abubakar Muhammad of RM Times , Nasir Abbas Babi of Garkuwa FM and Abdulwasiu Olokooba of SaharaReporters
The fellows according to the organizers would in the next ten months, be supported with capacity building, up to N1,000,000 (one million naira) each, and other resources to track and produce impactful journalistic work on state governments’ gender responsiveness in education planning.
The programme would integrate development project analytic skills, which create measurable impact and issue-based reports, and traditional journalism skills and ethics, which create compelling and credible stories.
It would also offer a structured framework for fellows to deepen their knowledge about education policies and practices that are sensitive to gender issues, particularly explaining girls’ education outcomes and access to education.
‘The Founder and Executive Director of SSPL, Dr. Murtala Adogi Mohammed said to enhance access, transition, completion, quality of education, and equity, education systems must be designed to be gender-responsive’,
He said ‘the Education Sector Plan (ESP), as a country’s blueprint for education reform, provides a crucial opportunity to integrate gender equality into every aspect of education.
Additionally, provisions must be made in the state budget for the implementation of a gender-responsive sector plan’.
On his part, the Executive Director of ImpactHouse, John Andah, said, ‘After a rigorous selection process, we are incredibly proud to welcome this group of journalists to the Change Reporting 2.0 Media Fellowship on GRESP judging by their expertise and interest in covering education issues.
‘Their dedication to uncovering and telling important stories about education is truly inspiring, and along with our partners, SSPL,
we look forward to supporting them in their efforts to trigger positive change in basic and senior secondary education in Nigeria, especially with respect to ensuring an inclusive and equitable educational environment’.
The fellowship officially begins with a two-day capacity-building programme in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
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