Japan-UNESCO Project: Capacity Building Workshop For Community Media Practitioners Holds In Delta

The Japan Government has provided funding to UNESCO Regional Office Abuja to organize a two-day Capacity Building Workshop for community media on balanced gender based violence reportage in marginalized communities in Delta state.

The event scheduled for August 19 and 20 commenced on Thursday at Orchid Hotels, Asaba.

This follows the successful advocacy meeting on the Japan-UNESCO project titled “Empowerment of Women and Girls in Marginalized Communities for Better Well-Being through Education and Advocacy” in Delta state on Tuesday, 11 May 2021 with funding from the Japan Government.

The Honourable Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and other government dignitaries expressed government’s commitment to support the implementation of the project in the State.

The aim of the advocacy launch and inception meeting was to solicit the support of the Delta State government and all relevant partners as well as promote the buy-in by all stakeholders for sustainability.

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The capacity-building workshop, which has been implemented in Bauchi and Gombe state and is been replicated in Delta state, is aimed on balanced reportage on gender-based violence and on how to use their platforms to advocate for the rights of women and girls on Gender Base Violence (GBV); and to educate on COVID-19 prevention, violent extremism and hate speech.

The media personnel will also be equipped with strategies for developing quality contents on gender sensitive reportage, countering hate speech, mis/disinformation and early warning mechanism on SGBV and its impact on the communities.

Additionally, they would be taught on the rudiments of Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and how to utilize its concepts to improve reportage on Sexual and Gender Base Violence (SGBV).

The Japan-UNESCO project sets to tackle the disruption of learning and the surge of gender-based violence brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and will promote the empowerment of women and girls in marginalized communities for resilience strengthening and self-actualization through education.

The project is also a tool for effective advocacy on eliminating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and reducing the spread of COVID-19, ultimately contributing to peace, stability and inclusive development in the beneficiary states: Bauchi, Gombe and Delta.

This is expected to be achieved through the combined impact of psychosocial rehabilitation, community media empowerment, and second chance education opportunities.

Japan has had series of collaboration with UNESCO over the years in its efforts to promote sustainable development.

The focus of the project on the promotion of peace, stability, and inclusive development for shared prosperity is at the heart of Japan’s Country Development Cooperation Policy for Nigeria.

For more information, please contact:
Nuhu, Yachat (ys.nuhu@unesco.org) OiC Communication and Information Officer, UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office, Abuja, Nigeria.
Anene-Maidoh, Magdalene (m.anene-maidoh@unesco.org) Education and Partnership Officer, UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office, Abuja, Nigeria.
Okafor, Nneka Ifeoma (ni.okafor@unesco.org) OiC Social and Human Science Officer, UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office, Abuja, Nigeria