Kaduna: UNFPA, ISMPH, Boost Journalists Skills to Transform GBV, SRHR Reporting

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna 

Journalists in Kaduna on Friday commenced a two-day capacity-building training on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

 The training was organised by the International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH) with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The training, held as part of activities to commemorate the global 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, was designed to equip reporters with stronger ethical, trauma-informed, and solutions-driven approaches to reporting sensitive gender and health issues.

Participants were trained to identify harmful stereotypes, ask survivor-safe questions, challenge misinformation, and craft narratives that can shift public perception and drive accountability.

Executive Director of ISMPH, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, in a remarks delivered virtually, said the training comes at a critical time, noting that journalists have enormous influence in shaping public discourse on GBV and SRHR. 

She emphasized that media narratives can break cycles of silence or, when misreported, reinforce stigma and injustice.

She expressed confidence that the workshop would empower journalists to develop more balanced stories capable of changing societal attitudes and amplifying survivors’ voices. 

Makanjuola encouraged participants to engage actively, ask questions, and use their platforms, especially in local language to expand public understanding and prompt social change.

UNFPA’s representative, Dr. Elvis Evborein underscored the importance of media professionals in the fight against GBV, describing perpetrators as “formidable” and emphasizing the need for equally formidable allies.

He said the training was timely, aligning with ongoing national and global efforts to end GBV and child marriage. 

Dr. Evborein noted that by improving the quality of reporting, journalists strengthen advocacy, support survivors, expose harmful practices, and make it harder for abusers to hide behind silence or social norms.

The workshop focused on improving journalists’ understanding of the root causes and consequences of GBV, as well as key SRHR concepts such as family planning, maternal health, and reproductive justice. 

Participants were equipped on trauma-informed reporting, especially when interviewing survivors, and on identifying biases and damaging narratives that often accompany reportage on gender issues.

The journalists expressed hope of better knowledge to produce impactful, human-centered stories that spotlight prevention, accountability, and survivor empowerment. 

They noted that the training will fill a long-standing knowledge and skill gaps in their reporting practice.

Organisers believe the ripple effects of the training will be significant. 

As journalists sharpen their reporting skills and deepen their understanding of SRHR and GBV, the public stands to benefit from more accurate, ethical, and empathetic media coverage ultimately supporting ongoing advocacy for justice, policy implementation, and community protection.

The initiative reinforces UNFPA and ISMPH’s commitment to building a media landscape that drives positive behavioural and social change, supports survivors, and contributes to a safer society for women and girls across Kaduna and beyond.