This year, we will equip twenty-one female journalists with the skills, finesse, support and tools to position them for the highest leadership roles in their media houses, thereby increasing the community of women with leadership prowess to put conversations on various forms of violence against girls and women on the front burner, while interrogating criminal justice issues of abuse.
Meet the 2021 cohort of female reporters.
Abimbola Adegboyega has over nine years journalism experience in broadcast media and currently reports for Ekiti State Broadcasting Service. She is the co-convener, Walk Against Rape rally in Ekiti which prompted the state government to establish a law to castrate rapists in the state. Abimbola loves sports and plays handball. She is a graduate of Mass Communication from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, and a fellow of the International Centre for Investigative `Reporting on Open Contract Reporting.
Adetola Bademosi works with Nigerian Tribune Newspapers. Her passion for writing drives her to write impactful stories on social justice, business and vulnerable groups. She obtained her National Diploma (ND) certificate at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State, and a bachelor’s degree from the National Open University (NOUN). Adetola is one of Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ’s) 2021 Natural Resources Programme (NAREP) fellow. Apart from writing and reading novels, Adetola is a professional singer.
A broadcast journalist, editor, writer and producer with over six years’ experience in the online, radio, and TV reporting, Aneta Felix is an advocate of girls’ education and founder of APP, a creative writing competition that rewards children with scholarship. Some of her accolades include winner of the Prevent Epidemics Naija award, Women in Tech Reporting category of the girls Impact the World Film festival in 2020 , SME journalist of the year by FATE Foundation. Aneta majored in International Studies and Diplomacy and is a graduate from the National Broadcast Academy.
With nearly a decade of media and communication experience, Anita works as the Managing Editor of HumAngle, Abuja. She holds a degree in Mass Communication from Samuel Adegboyega University, Master’s in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, and several certifications in data analysis and journalism. Her expertise in human interest reporting, data reporting, interactive content development and media business management has led to writing several national and international publications with a focus on communication for development.
A correspondent with Guardian Newspaper in Rivers State, Ann Godwin covers environment, politics, trafficking science and other general beats. As a presenter of ‘Youths and Society’ programme on BRTV, Ann contributed to shaping discourse in the Niger Delta through her reporting. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication from Imo State University, a diploma in Theological Sciences from the Pentecostal Bible Institute, and a diploma in Applied Information Technology at WorldWide Net Computers in Rivers State. Ann loves teaching, learning new things, listening to people and solving problems.
The judicial correspondent at TheCable, Bolanle Olabimtan is passionate about women, children, and human rights. She volunteers for The Esther’s Generation Relief Initiative (TEGRI), a non-governmental organisation established to help the girlchild maximise purpose. In 2019, Bolanle worked with the Oak Centre for Journalism Development (OCJD) and the SOAS University, London on a research on the intersection between corruption, media and the electoral process in Nigeria. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Media and Communications studies from Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. She likes playing badminton and watching movies.
A conflict sensitive journalist and advocate of girlchild education, Blessing Tunoh started her journalism career on gender-based issues, escalating war crimes committed against women and their resilience. She enjoys photography, reading and mentoring younger reporters. In 2016, she was one of the recipients of the Chief of Army Staff’s Award of Excellence and Courage. Blessing has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from the University of Maiduguri and is currently on a master’s degree programme in Humanitarian and Refugee Studies.
Bukola Samuel-Wemimo is a broadcast journalist reporting human angle stories with TVC News. She has won several awards including the Female Newscaster of the year, 2012; Nigerian Broadcasters Award 2017; Presenter of the Year, City People Entertainment Award; Inspirational Woman award, and winner of the television category, Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting in 2020. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and International Studies and a master’s degree in Mass communication from the University of Lagos.
Chioma Ezenwafor is the current news editor at Nigeria Info, Cool FM and Wazobia FM in Port Harcourt. She produces and co-hosts Female Outcome, Follow the Money and Stop Violence Against Women in Politics. A graduate of Mass Communication from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Chioma is a recipient of several awards including the Reporting Migration Competition 2020 launched by the International Organisation for Migration. She writes for websites, eblogs.
A multimedia journalist with the BBC News Pidgin, Dooshima Veronica Abu reports on humanity, local and international politics, health, security among others. One of her outstanding report was the Nyanya bomb blast of a 82-year-old Imam, Abdullahi Abubakar, who saved more than 200 Christians from suspected herdsmen in Plateau state. Dooshima has a postgraduate diploma in Mass Communication, a master’s degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the National Defence Academy and a bachelor’s degree in English Language from Benue State University.
Ibizugbe Osaruonamen is the Independent Television and Radio correspondent in Abuja where she anchors a youth led TV programme called YouthsCAN. She is a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists and a migration reporter with the International Organisation for Migration, IOM. She holds a first degree in Accounting from the University of Abuja, professional certificate in English from the University of Pennsylvania. She loves reading, watching movies and swimming.
Ikpang Bassey is the Assistant News Manager with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Abuja, covering gender, health, human rights and social development beats. She conceived Supporting Hands Initiative (SHI) for the development needs and rights of the vulnerable based on her passion for gender issues. Ikpang is a member of several professional and gender advancement groups and a fellow of the International Aids Society. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Imaobong Dem is a broadcast journalist with 11 years of practice presently working with Nigeria Family Radio Brand, Inspiration FM, Uyo. She has a bias for health reporting and solutions journalism. Imaobong is an alumnus of the Thomas Reuters Foundation as well as a solutions and data journalist trained by the Pan Atlantic University – School of Media and Communication. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from the University of Uyo. Imaobong loves to travel.
A freelance investigative reporter and storyteller, Jennifer Ugwa has over three years’ experience having worked for the Pointer Newspaper, Delta State Broadcasting Service and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. She is a member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network and an alumna of the University of Nigeria Nsukka. Jennifer is a recipient of the Code for Africa Wanadata Reporting Fellowship and Institute for War and Peace Reporting COVID-19 FactChecking programme among others.
Khadija Bawas is the current Programme Manager, Liberty TV /Radio Kano. She sits as the board director of Azmeerah Production Limited. She is a Change Ambassador for Peace and Humanity, and Fellow, African Science Literacy Network. Her hobbies are photography, blogging and cooking. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and is currently a master’s student in Communication studies, Bayero University Kano.
Kimberly Nwachukwu anchors ‘Hard Facts’ on Nigeria Info FM, 95.1 Abuja and hosts ‘The Woman’ programme. A graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Jos, Kimberly has undergone several trainings in the areas of election, migration, gender sensitive reporting and advocacy, security, governance and health. She is a Bounce Corruption Ambassador and a YouthHub Africa Child Rights Advocacy Fellow.
She heads the Education desk at the Nation Newspaper with over sixteen years professional experience in journalism. Kofoworola Belo-Osagie co-authored a book, Briefcases and Blenders, which details wisdom bites from mentors. She loves cooking, traveling and reading. Kofoworola studied Mass Communication at Auchi Polytechnic and has a postgraduate diploma in Community Relations from the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. She is an associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
With over nine years’ experience in the broadcast media, Magdalene Michael won the 2014 Climate Control News Coordinator Award. Magdalene is a graduate of Mass Communication from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and is currently studying for a master’s degree in Strategic Communication. She is a DW Akademie Fellow and a Search for Common Ground Peace Journalist. She loves to travel, hike, read books and mentor young girls.
Temitope Oluleye is a programme producer, presenter & newscaster at Royal FM 95.1, Ilorin & Royal TV with ten years professional experience in the broadcast media. Her interest in women issues led her to produce 100% Woman to highlight the issues women go through in the society. She is the founder of ‘She Blossoms Foundation’, an NGO that launched the “No to Gender-Based Violence” initiative. She is a 2018 African Changemakers Fellow. Her hobbies include cooking and creating content.
A multimedia journalist with Premium Times with five years of practice in journalism, Titilope’s interest range from women, children, politics to Internally displaced persons and persons living with disability. She was one of the winners of the 2021 Facebook Africa Video Storytellers Programme and has a degree in English Language from Obafemi Awolowo University. In her leisure, Titilope volunteers for non-governmental organisations.
Founder of News Verifier Africa, a platform that collates and factchecks news across Africa, Zainab Sanni is the Deputy Director of News and Current Affairs and Head of Investigative Desk at Agidigbo FM, Oyo State. she was the media ambassador on the United Nation’s International Children’s Emergency Fund and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) joint campaign to end Female Genital Mutilation in Oyo State. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, and is an alumna of the Knowles Education and Charitable Trust for International Leadership. Zainab loves to read, dance and volunteer in her spare time.