7th June, 2017
The Gender Equality Movement (GEM) in Enugu State has commended the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for being gender sensitive in its reportage.
The Leader of the movement, Mrs Ijeoma Uzoma, made the commendation in Enugu when the group visited the Zonal Office of the agency.
According to Uzoma, NAN is a non-biased media that gives equal opportunity to all gender without discrimination.
She solicited collaboration with the agency in promoting and mainstreaming gender equality in all aspects of life.
The leader recalled that the GEM was set up in March 2016 by the Women Aid Collective (WACOL) under the Voice for Change project of the British Department For International Development (DFID).
Uzoma said that the movement comprised students, politicians, the business sector and Civil Society Organisations.
She explained that the campaign for gender equality was aimed at giving equal opportunities to both men and women in the scheme of things.
“I want to make it clear that gender equality campaign is not for women to fight or struggle for equality with the men but for balance in leadership positions,” she said.
Another member of the group, Mr Chukwudi Ojielo, urged the media to create visibility for women in leadership positions.
Ojielo expressed dismay that only three female legislators were in the 24-member Enugu House of Assembly and called for a redress.
He also appealed to NAN to promote the activities of the female legislators so that their voice would be heard and appreciated.
Responding, the Zonal Manager of NAN, South East, Mr Felix Nwadioha, pledged the agency’s readiness to partner with organisations promoting the welfare of citizens and national growth.
Nwadioha informed the group that NAN has a special desk for gender issues, and urged it to patronise some media products of the agency including the Short Message Services for news alert.
However, he advised women to stop playing subservient roles like praise singing during politics, urging them to rise to challenges of political process by supporting one another.