Training of Female Journalists on Gender Empowerment Bill

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As part of the campaign for the enactment of the Gender Empowerment Bill 2021, the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs in partnership with SLAWIJ conducted a one-day training for female journalists and media influencers in Freetown. Participants were drawn from all sixteen districts of the country. The thrust of the training was to take the journalists and media influencers through the content of the Bill so they will be well equipped to share information with their audiences.

According to the Director of Gender in the Ministry, Charles Vandi, the 30% quota for women in governance and leadership positions came from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission “30 percent representation of women in elected assemblies, cabinets and other political posts, to increase to 50/50 gender parity within the next 10 years.”

He said the Gender Empowerment Bill if passed in Parliament will address both economic and political empowerment of women— minimum 30% political representation through reserve constituencies for only women candidates, minimum 30% appointive positions, Access to Finance and Gender Mainstreaming across all sectors.

The Vice-President for Women’s Forum Cecilia Bangura noted that women have been calling on successive governments for 30% female representations in politics, but this was never fruitful. She said her organisation will again throw their support to the new Bill.

Sahr Kendema, Program Manager Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) said as a strong partner in the campaign, CCG has held consultations with key stakeholders on the Bill across the country and these, he said gave their support including local authorities.

SLAWIJ’s Executive President, Millicent Kargbo said the media plays an important role in the promotion of gender equality, both within the working environment— in terms of employment and promotion of female staff at all levels and the representation of women and men for fair gender portrayal. She encouraged all to devote maximum attention to the training and to let the knowledge reflect in their reports of the Gender Empowerment Bill 2021.

 

 

 

Mariama Coker

Adviser

Mariama Coker started as a cub reporter and rose through the ranks to become top of her class in print media in Sierra Leone. She worked for the media houses like Sierra Leone Daily Mail, Expo Times Newspaper, News Storm, Salone Times, Stringer for KISS 104 in Bo, Skyy Radio in Freetown. Her commitment to duty got her appointed as a Press Attache’ to the Mano River Union Countries to serve her country in a diplomatic capacity. She served for ten (10) years promoting her country before she returned. 

She has held various positions within media organizations in Sierra Leone and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Awards by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists in 2019. In what now seems like a retirement of a seasoned female journalist, Mariama Coker is now a Freelancer and mentoring young female journalists to make impact in the field of journalism.

Haja Mariama Sesay

Director of Finance

Haja Mariama Sesay is a celebrated female media personality whose journalism journey started over 15 years ago learning on the job with a strong passion for news and current affairs.  Her contribution to the growth of women in the media landscape is enormous.

Having started as a reporter at Citizen Radio in 2005, her journalistic passion took her to the hills of Fourah Bay College Mass Communication Department where she secured her Associate Degree in Mass Communication. She is currently a Producer at BBC Media Action in Sierra Leone, where her decade long experience in the institution has been transformative.

Zainab Kanu

Corporate Secretary

Zainab Kanu is a well-respected and experienced journalist in Sierra Leone. She ventured in the print media landscape a mostly male dominated territory and has worked her way through to become a strong reporter.

She is a female activist, a development media promoter and very passionate about equality in the media landscape of Sierra Leone and other African countries. She has attended many Media trainings and mentored other female journalists in the newsroom.

Mariama Khai Fornah

Director of Public Relations

Mariama Khai Fornah has over 10 years’ experience in Radio Journalism, gender activism and mentorship. She has worked as broadcast journalist for Eastern Radio in Kenema and Cotton Tree News (CTN). She served as a Local Trainer South-East of Sierra Leone providing trainings on basic journalism and mentorship for BBC Media Action and served as Program manager for several projects including the Cacao Livelihoods Project, the Queen’s Younger Leaders Project and Leave No Girl Behind Project for the organisation.                              

The first African female journalist to report on the Charles Taylor Trial from The Hague, Netherlands, an assistant producer for a weekly show on the Charles Taylor’s project called ‘HAGUE LINK’’. She has served as a communication consultant for World Bank in Sierra Leone and other organisations and is the Board Chair for Media Matters for Women Sierra Leone. (MMW-SL). She has won several awards including the Independent Media Commission Award for journalist of the year, 2011, Best Female Reporter in Sierra Leone.

Aminata Finda Massaquoi

Director of Programmes

Aminata Finda Massaquoi a media guru and social commentator. She started this amazing journey in 2009 as a reporter, went on to be a presenter, producer and is now the Station Manager of Culture Radio. She is one among few female journalists who head media houses in Sierra Leone. Her journey has not been smooth as one would imagine, but she’s a strong woman and was able to surmount her challenges.

Today, she serves as a vibrant voice to women’s issues within and out of the media. She has received several trainings in the media both nationally and internationally.

Millicent Kargbo

Executive President

Millicent Kargbo is the co-founder and first president of the Association. A strong advocate for professional growth of female journalists, better working conditions, education and leadership positions within the media. She is very passionate about gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment across all levels. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Sierra Leone. She works with the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone as Principal Public Information Officer.

In 2021, she was the senior producer at the Independent Radio Network—a bloc of 26 radio stations in Sierra Leone. Millicent was one of many Sierra Leoneans that were hired and trained by Fondation Hirondelle’sCotton Tree News (CTN) project where she eventually rose to the position of Features Editor and Deputy Senior Producer—the first female to hold a senior role in the newsroom.