NAWOJ collaborates with American Spaces to train female journalists on virtual technology
NAWOJ collaborates with American Spaces to train female journalists on virtual technology
Story from Beatrice EARLAND, Bauchi
In order to keep up with global trends in information dissemination, the Bauchi State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), in collaboration with American Spaces, organized a training program on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools for its members.
The training, held on Thursday at the American Spaces office in Bauchi, aimed to equip members with knowledge about modern virtual technology.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Rashida Yusuf, the state Chairperson of NAWOJ, urged her members to seize the opportunity to learn more about modern technology to enhance their work.
She expressed her gratitude to the resource persons for responding to the invitation and highlighted that the training aimed to empower female journalists to effectively carry out their jobs using modern tools.
“It is necessary for women journalists to be well-versed in these modern tools in this era of technology,” she stated.
The training, organized in collaboration with American Spaces and the Professor Iya Abubakar Resource Centre in Bauchi, took place on Thursday, July 13, 2023.
Facilitating the training, Nasiru Umaru Launi, the Director of American Space, Bauchi, emphasized that this was not the first time they had collaborated with NAWOJ.
“We have been working with them for many years, and they are an integral part of what we do,” he said.
“NAWOJ promotes what we do, so the importance of working with them cannot be overstated. Today, we focused on how to leverage virtual platforms, enabling them to rise to the challenges faced globally.”
Launi acknowledged the challenges of distance and the increasing pressure of fuel subsidies, stating that virtual platforms can play a significant role in facilitating communication at the local, national, and international levels.
He emphasized that the subject of the training was relevant and trending, adding, “As a professional, there will come a time when you will be directed to join a Zoom meeting or similar platforms.”
“The participants embraced the training wholeheartedly and rose to the challenge,” he added.
Mrs. Rashida Yusuf assured the attendees that more training sessions would be organized to empower NAWOJ members.
She expressed her appreciation for the support and cooperation of those who attended the training, emphasizing that their active participation was encouraging.
Halima Ibrahim Dimis, a former National Officer of NAWOJ, described the training as crucial and timely.
She encouraged the participants to prioritize and adopt the technology of virtual meetings in order to keep pace with the changing times.
“The training focused on IT programs that enable female journalists to effectively engage with social media platforms and participate in Zoom meetings, among others, to adapt to the changing times,” Dimis said.
“In this region, many of us are comfortable with the traditional way of writing stories, but things have changed with the advent of ICT. Ignoring ICT is no longer an option because the world has become a global village.”
She emphasized the need to embrace change and stay updated, saying, “Either you adapt to the changes or you risk being left behind.”