Six Broadcast Journalists Selected for Dataphyte’s Gender Fellowship
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
Dataphyte Foundation, a social impact organisation dedicated to leveraging data tools and technology for Nigeria’s socio-economic development, has announced the induction of six broadcast journalists as fellows in its Gender Mainstreaming Fellowship programme, Cohort 3.
The fellows, a statement signed by the Nigerian Programmes Director, Dataphyte Foundation, Femi Amele, said, were selected from a pool of 42 applicants from 34 media organisations in the South-east and South-south regions of Nigeria.
The 12-week fellowship programme, according to Dataphyte, aims to empower journalists to harness data effectively in mainstreaming gender in broadcast coverage of socio-economic and development themes.
The programme is expected to run from July to September 2024 and includes comprehensive training to produce data-driven, development-focused broadcast content.
This approach, it stressed, aims to curb gender-limited reporting and gender stereotyping in news reports and amplify female voices and representation in media coverage.
During the virtual induction meeting, Dataphyte’s Global Director, Rosemary Olufemi, emphasised the importance of gender mainstreaming.
She said: “Gender issues are fundamental to building a sustainable future. We need to amplify the gender voice, which is currently just a whisper, and bring gender conversations to the front burner.
“Through this fellowship, we aim to empower broadcast journalists to shape public discourse, influence positive change, and tell the stories of women that need to be told.”
The fellows expressed their excitement about the programme, with Imaobong Dem, Head of News, Inspiration 105.9FM, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, stating that she intends to explore diverse local problems, through the initiation of conversations on critical issues that are underserved while telling compelling and data-driven stories to stimulate policy changes for development.
Also, Principal Producer of NTA Yenagoa, Precious David-Ogaga, added that he was looking forward to using his skills to create compelling programming that highlights gender issues.
The Dataphyte Gender Mainstreaming Fellowship, supported by the New Venture Fund, the statement said, has demonstrated an impact on fellows and their host communities.
A Cohort 2 Fellow, Funmilayo Adekoya, an Anchor/Producer of ‘Obinrin Lawujo’ on Radio Nigeria, Gold 95.5 FM, Ilesha Osun State, an indigenous radio station reaching over 1.6 million listeners, reported that the programme had empowered her to report more effectively on gender issues, and enhanced her data-driven storytelling skills.
She also conducted a community engagement activity, raising awareness about menstrual hygiene among female students in Ifelodun Grammar School, Ilowa-Ijesa, Osun State.
Her experience, Dataphyte said, demonstrated the fellowship’s effectiveness in empowering journalists to promote gender mainstreaming in media coverage.
With the demonstrated impact of this programme on fellows and their host communities, the Dataphyte Gender Mainstreaming Fellowship is set to make a lasting impact on media coverage and public discourse surrounding gender in Nigeria.
