Writing by Naomi Anzaku; Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
Women Journalists have been advised to focus more on reporting the plight of their fellow women and children in order to bring to spotlight areas of neglect and stigmatization.
The Chief of Field Office of UNICEF in Kaduna region, Dr. Gerida Birukila gave the advice while playing host to the Nigeria Assocation of Women Journalists, NAWOJ Kaduna state chapter team at the UNICEF office in Kaduna.
According to her, many women and girls in the country suffer in silence from stigmatization after being victims of kidnappers as many of them lose their marriages and are also being neglected by loved ones and their communities.
“Honestly, we need to talk about what is happening now, facing women now, this people that are kidnapped, has it occured to you what is happening to them, have you talked to those women, me I have dealt with some of them, including what is happening now in Kajuru, and then in Chibok, Dachi, what I saw was sad, seventy-five percent of people that are been kidnapped are women”, she said.
Dr. Gerida expressed sadness over such development, stressing that such practices should stop as it goes a long way to affect the victims and in turn the society, calling for education and enlightenment.
She however expressed readiness to partner with the Nigeria Assocation of Women Journalists, Kaduna State Chapter towards specialized and solution journalism that would tackle issues relating to women and children in the state.
Earlier, the State Chairperson of NAWOJ Kaduna state chapter, Hajiya Sahura Jibrin Maidoki said they were in the UNICEF office to seek collaboration in order to improve efforts on enlightenment by the Assocation around children and women in the state.
She applauded UNICEF for the work they have put on ground so far with particular reference to child care, menstrual and personal hygiene for women, water and sanitation among others, and called on other organizations to emulate such gestures.
Hajiya Sahura who explained some of the achievements of NAWOJ Kaduna State in 2025 in the areas of medical outreaches for expectant mothers, women and children, maintained that the Assocation is open to collaborate with any organization or individuals on such issues for a better society.
Cov/Naomi Anzaku.
