Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Kaduna State chapter is seeking collaborations with Non Govermnental Organisations towards enhance Peace and Security in the discharge of their duties.
Kaduna state chairperson, Comrade Fatima Aliyu who made this known also solicited the training of it’s members on security and peace building processes, to communicate the messages to the society.
Aliyu made the call while playing host to an International Non- Governmental Organisation, Equal Access International, that visited he Kaduna chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ and the Zone A Secretary, Daharatu Ahmed Aliyu at the NUJ center in Kaduna.
She explained that, the women Journalists association has more than one hundred platforms to disseminate their reportage.
According to her, Kaduna NAWOJ was ever ready to partner with both governmental and non governmental organizations to the fulfillment of it’s mandate to the public.
Fatima applauded the International NGO, Equal Access International for extending the hands of partnership. She called on other NGO to emulate the gesture in order to enhance the quality and understanding of the public particularly those at the grassroots through the reportage of the women Journalists.
The Northwest representative of NAWOJ, Daharatu Ahmed Aliyu, who doubles as the Zone A Secretary, said that the visit was apt and came at a time the public was yelling for more enlightenment and understanding on national issues, particularly on the issues of peace and security.
She urged the international NGO to extend its hands of training and courtesy visits to women Journalists across the North west which is her zone and prayed for more practical collaborative steps to be taking by the NGO as well as other organisations towards education of the women journalists.
Earlier, the Field Co-ordinator of Equal Access International, Kaduna state office, Mrs Rebecca James Bilai explained that, the NGO was currently working on a project Securing Nigerian Communities, (SNC) in selected LGAs in Kaduna, Benue, Plateau, Kano states and Chikun, Kajuru and Jema’a local government areas of Kaduna state are the benefiting LGAs.
According to her, SNC is designed to increase access to information, equip key stakeholders with practical violence reduction tools, and forge new social connections across conflicting groups, while addressing the systemic inequities that present barriers to human security.
She said that, the visit was geared towards collaborations and seeking stronger partnership with NAWOJ going by their contributions in society development as the forth estate of the realm.
According to her, the International NGO might extend the local government areas they are currently working on based on their assessment, as mapping of Local government areas for the extension of the project in LGAS, as well as states have already been recommended.
The field coordinator however noted that, so far, the lackadaisical attitude in people, particularly women on issues of peace building and security in the local government areas they are covering has improved compared to when they started, and this is due to their level of engagement.
She however stated that, more is needed to be done as security is everybody’s business.
Rebecca advised women to be inspired by the works of other women, as the 2024 International Women’s Day is been marked, while urged them to be patriotic citizens even if there were no monetary commitments.
The Field Coordinator, Rebecca James Bilai paid the visit to NAWOJ along side her colleagues, Moronke Akande, the Local Resource Organisation for Equal Access, Kaduna chapter, and Grace Yohanna the team lead of the Women Peace Builders, Chikun LGA of Kaduna.
Mercy Chukwudiebere