By Uloma Peace Okorie
A member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, and Publisher of NewsXtra Magazine, Uloma Peace Okorie, has applauded the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Walson-Jack, for fulfilling her promise to empower women journalists through capacity building.
Speaking during a training workshop organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja, Okorie described Mrs. Walson-Jack as a leader who believes in action rather than mere promises.
“Mrs. Esther Walson-Jack has shown that she is truly a woman of her word. She made a promise to train women journalists, and today she has not only fulfilled that promise but exceeded expectations by training over 100 women journalists,” Okorie said.
She noted that the training programme has contributed significantly to improving the professional competence of women journalists, particularly in the areas of news gathering, reporting, and ethical journalism.
“This training has made our job easier and better. It has exposed women journalists to modern techniques of reporting and information management, which will positively reflect in the quality of news we deliver to the public,” she added.
Okorie emphasized that empowering women journalists is critical to strengthening the media profession and promoting balanced and responsible journalism in Nigeria.
“When you train a journalist, especially a woman, you are shaping her professionalism and helping her bring out the very best in her career. This kind of investment has a long-term impact on the media industry and society at large,” she stated.
She urged ministers, managing directors, directors-general, and heads of government establishments to emulate the example set by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation by supporting similar training initiatives for journalists.
“I want to call on ministers, MDs, DGs, and heads of agencies to follow this laudable example. Government institutions should see journalist training as a partnership that strengthens governance, transparency, and public communication,” Okorie said.
The training workshop, which was held in Abuja, was organized by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation as part of its commitment to capacity development and gender inclusion. The programme brought together over 100 women journalists from the Federal Capital Territory, equipping them with skills aimed at enhancing professionalism and effective reportage.