The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, FCT chapter, has called for deliberate actions to promote justice and equal opportunities for women and girls across all sectors of society.

Bassey Ikpang, chairperson of NAWOJ FCT, made the call in a statement on Sunday in Abuja to commemorate International Women’s Day 2026, themed “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls.”

Ms Ikpang said the theme served as a strong reminder that achieving gender equality required more than conversations.

She stressed the need for concrete actions to protect the rights of women and girls and ensure justice whenever such rights were violated. She added that bold steps must also be taken to guarantee equal opportunities and inclusion for women in all sectors of society.

“As journalists and advocates, NAWOJ FCT remains committed to amplifying the voices of women, especially those whose stories are often unheard. We will continue to use our platforms to highlight issues affecting women and girls and advocate policies that promote equality, justice and dignity for all,” she said.

According to her, the association has continued to collaborate with key stakeholders to improve the welfare and professional capacity of female journalists.

She said one such collaboration was with the Federal Medical Centre and the Federal Ministry of Health to provide free cancer screening for female journalists in the Federal Capital Territory.

Ms Ikpang noted that the initiative underscored the importance of prioritising women’s health, particularly in the early detection and prevention of cancer.

She further disclosed that NAWOJ FCT, in partnership with the German embassy, was implementing two programmes to empower women journalists as part of activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day.

She explained that the programmes included a capacity-building initiative to strengthen the professional skills and leadership abilities of female journalists.

She added that the initiative also featured a marketplace advocacy event aimed at engaging grassroots women and raising awareness on issues affecting women and girls.

The NAWOJ chairperson also reiterated the association’s commitment to amplifying the voices of women in leadership and decision-making spaces.

According to her, the chapter, in collaboration with other stakeholders, will continue to advocate for the actualisation of special seats for women in governance to improve their representation in political leadership and decision-making processes in Nigeria.

Ms Ikpang called on governments, institutions, and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to ensure equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal protection for women and girls.

She also commended female journalists in the Federal Capital Territory for their resilience, professionalism and dedication to telling stories that highlighted issues affecting women and vulnerable groups.

“Let us all remain committed to a future where every woman and girl enjoys her full rights, has access to justice and is empowered to reach her full potential,” she said. 

(NAN)