In today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, integrating gender perspectives isn’t just necessary — it’s transformative. Thanks to the Africa Women Journalism Project (AWJP), I’ve seen firsthand how dedicated mentorship and newsroom support can shift narratives and reshape newsrooms.
As the Group Gender Lead at the Media Trust Group, publishers of Daily Trust newspaper, I had the privilege of having a mentor assigned to me by AWJP —Rose Lukalo . The mentorship and newsroom support to set up the gender desk was part of the West Africa GBV Reporting Fellowship in which my colleague Lami Sadique was an alumni. Over three transformative months, with AWJP’s backing, l deepened my understanding of gender mainstreaming and gained tools that are now shaping our newsroom.
A Mentorship that Sparked Change
Working with Rose was more than an exchange of knowledge. It wasn’t just about skills — it was an awakening, a mindset shift. She helped me see gender mainstreaming not as a checklist but as the heartbeat of ethical, representative storytelling. Her strategic insights, combined with hands-on advice, became the foundation for the initiatives I now lead across our platforms — print, television, radio, and digital.
Transformation Tools We Built
AWJP’s support enabled the creation of:
- Advancing Gender Equality Strategy:
I authored Advancing Gender Equality through Storytelling: A Content and Mainstreaming Strategy for Daily Trust’s Gender Desk (2024) — a full content roadmap for embedding gender perspectives in everything we publish.
- Gender Tip Sheet for Journalists:
A practical resource to support our reporters. I created a tip sheet offering practical guidelines on inclusive language, representation, and ethical storytelling now rolled out to 40 reporters through in-house training.
- Gender Sources Database:
Representation matters. I built a living tool— a database of diverse female experts to ensure our stories feature a diverse range of voices and expertise.
•Audience and Content Audit Matrix:
To keep us accountable, I designed a detailed work plan along with an Audience Audit Matrix and a Content Audit Matrix — both helping us craft stories that are meaningful, resonant, and cost-effective.
Collaboration and Impact
Through AWJP’s partnership with Daily Trust , we were avle to strengthen our gender desk. Through this collaboration, we welcomed a junior reporter Tahnteh Azal, whose contributions have helped us amplify underreported stories.
Here are just a few of the impactful stories we’ve produced with this strengthened gender lens:
- The Many Controversies of the Women Affairs Minister
- Big Sheda Women: A Story of Resilience and Unity
- The Akpu Women Association: A Story of Unity and Resilience (YouTube story)
- How Cost and Access Fuel Infant Mortality in FCT Communities
- Plateau Crisis: Pregnant Woman Gives Birth in the Open
- Polygamous Politics: Why the Title of First Lady Should Be Dropped
These stories reflect our commitment to telling authentic, inclusive narratives that drive conversation and change.
Looking Ahead
AWJP’s mentorship through Rose Lukalo has been a cornerstone of my leadership journey. It equipped me with the confidence, tools, and vision to transform how gender is represented in our newsroom.
As l move forward, I am inspired and committed to champion AWJP’s vision of : a journalism that reflects diverse voices, pushes boundaries, and ensures it truly reflects the diverse realities of our society.
The journey continues — and so does the impact.