The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Oyo State Chapter, has hosted the South-West Zonal Summit in Ibadan, convening women journalists from across the region to examine the critical role of women in promoting peace and resolving conflicts in Nigeria.
The summit, themed “Women Driving Peace and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria: Her Voice, Her Power,” brought together Chairpersons and Secretaries of NAWOJ from Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo and Ogun States, alongside media leaders, policymakers and other stakeholders.
Declaring the summit open, the Chairperson of NAWOJ Oyo State Chapter, Comrade Omolola Alamu, welcomed participants to the state and commended South-West chapters for their consistent advocacy in peacebuilding and responsible journalism.
“This gathering reflects our shared commitment to using journalism as a tool for unity, stability and social change,” Alamu said. “I am confident that the conversations and exchanges at this summit will further strengthen our collective resolve to promote peace through ethical reporting and informed advocacy.”
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In her opening remarks, the Vice President, B-Zone of NAWOJ and Chief Host of the summit, Comrade Adeola Adekunle Omosola, described the conference as both timely and strategic, given Nigeria’s current socio-political climate.
“This summit is not just another event; it is a statement of who we are as women journalists and the responsibility we carry,” Omosola said. “Across our nation, conflicts continue to divide communities and threaten livelihoods. Yet we know that where women are given space, peace has a chance to flourish.”
She emphasised that women journalists bring a distinct perspective to conflict reporting by telling fuller, more human stories.
“When women report conflict, we centre victims, not just victors. We humanise statistics, highlight the impact of violence on families and communities, and ask questions that promote understanding rather than hatred,” she noted.
Omosola, however, drew attention to challenges confronting women in the media, including safety concerns, limited representation in leadership positions and the growing issue of sustainability in the profession.
“Many women are leaving journalism, not for lack of passion, but because the profession no longer sustains them. Poor pay, insecurity and burnout are forcing brilliant women out. This is a crisis we must address honestly,” she said.
Building Skills
She stressed that the summit was designed to respond to these realities by building skills, strengthening professional networks and advocating systems that respect and protect women journalists.
“To policymakers and media owners, supporting women journalists is not charity; it is nation-building,” Omosola added, calling on NAWOJ members to move from silence to strategy and from survival to leadership.
The summit featured a keynote lecture by the former Zonal Director of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Chief Mrs. Bolatito Joseph, who shared practical insights from her years of professional experience.
She urged NAWOJ members to uphold the ethics of journalism while actively encouraging greater participation of women in governance and leadership.
The event was graced by the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, who served as Special Guest of Honour, as well as leaders of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other distinguished guests.
Participants described the summit as a call to reflection and action, reinforcing the belief that women journalists are not merely observers of history but active shapers of Nigeria’s future.
As deliberations concluded, NAWOJ members reaffirmed their commitment to using their voices responsibly, courageously and compassionately to tell stories that build bridges, promote peace and strengthen national cohesion.