GBV: State Mgmt Committee Trains Resource Persons on Media Engagement

...Aim for effective media representation in 2024

Priscilla Akpanettot

Worried at the alarming increase in  Gender-based Violence (GBV) in the State, the Akwa Ibom State Gender-based Violence Management Committee has staged a training for persons who would engage with the media on issues pertaining to sexual and gender issues. 

Held on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at Ann's Haven in Uyo, the training was put together to ease the task of media engagements on few people, and to spread the reach of SGBV messages.

In her opening remarks, Director, Department of Sexual and Gender-based Violence and Secretary of the Akwa Ibom State GBV Management Committee, Barr. Emem Ette lamented the shortage of advocates On-Air. She recalled that during the last 16 days of advocacy against SGBV, a good number of airtime slots were missed due to unavailability of resource persons.

"We need more voices to speak to the ills ongoing in the society hence this training", she said.

She therefore called on the trainees to take good advantage of the training in preparation for media engagements subsequently.

Participants were taught how to prepare for media engagements, how to conduct themselves On-Air and how to speak in public.

While Barr. Emem Ette spoke on issues surrounding the concept of gender, gender issues and trends; Comrade Uduak Ekong, Chairperson AKBC TV Chapel of the NUJ gave an overview of the types of media and their characteristics. She made a case for the use of the electronic medium on grounds of the immediacy it affords in the dissemination of SGBV messages.

The Special Assistant to Governor Umo Eno on Social Reorientation, Mr. Aniekeme Finbarr educated the attendees on the four types of public speaking and gave useful hints on how to improve one's public speaking skills overtime; while Mrs. Nkoyo Umoh of Breakthrough Action Nigeria, took the trainees on practical steps in preparing for media engagements.

In their separate reactions, participants at the breakout session were excited to share their feedback on the training. They expressed readiness to take-up the responsibility of media advocacy and assured that the knowledge imparted in them would be put to effective use.

The training was put together in collaboration with the Coalition against GBV, with support from Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation.