The International Women’s Day was on Saturday commemorated in Katsina State with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Katsina State Chapter, joining women across Nigeria and the world to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women to societal development.
In a statement issued to mark the occasion, the Chairperson of NAWOJ in the state, Hannatu Mohammad, said the day provides an opportunity to reflect on the role women continue to play in nation-building as well as the challenges that still require collective action.
She noted that the annual celebration highlights the strength, courage and voices of women while recognising their resilience and invaluable contributions across various sectors of society.
According to her, women remain the backbone of families, communities and national development, making significant impacts in leadership, governance, education, healthcare, business and the media.
The association emphasised that as female journalists, members of NAWOJ have a responsibility to utilise the power of the media to amplify the voices of women and girls, draw attention to issues affecting them and advocate for policies that promote justice, equality and inclusion.
The statement added that through responsible journalism and advocacy, the association has continued to highlight key concerns including gender-based violence, child protection, girl-child education and women’s economic empowerment.
NAWOJ Katsina also reiterated its commitment to strengthening the participation of women in the media profession by promoting professionalism, ethical journalism and stories capable of inspiring positive social change.
The association further stressed the need to encourage and support young female journalists by creating opportunities that would enable them to succeed in the profession.
While congratulating women on the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day, the association called on government institutions, community leaders, civil society organisations and citizens to work together to build a society where women and girls can live free from discrimination, violence and inequality.
The statement maintained that empowering women would ultimately lead to stronger communities and sustainable societal development.
The statement was jointly signed by the NAWOJ Chairperson in Katsina State, Hannatu Mohammad, and the Secretary of the association, Faith Awa Maji.
