The fight against gender-based violence (GBV) took center stage on Friday as journalists, social media influencers, and advocates gathered at the NUJ Press Centre, Osogbo, for the Milestone Agenda for Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative.
With the theme “Influencing the Influential to End Gender-Based Violence in Osun State,” the event spotlighted the critical role of media practitioners in shaping narratives, exposing injustice, and championing a culture of zero tolerance toward abuse.
In his keynote address, Mr. Ismael Omipidan, Assistant Editor (Politics) at The Sun Newspapers and former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, underscored the media's power in breaking the silence around GBV.
“Journalists are not just reporters; they are gatekeepers of truth and advocates for justice. We must use our platforms to confront abuse head-on,” Omipidan declared.
Drawing from personal experience, Omipidan highlighted how economic hardship in northern Nigeria has contributed to the rise in child abuse cases. He shared a poignant story of a philanthropist who abandoned plans to sponsor a girl’s education due to societal pressure and fear of moral judgment, a situation that illustrated the stigma often associated with supporting vulnerable individuals.
He also addressed the issue of cyberbullying, calling Osun a “hyperactive digital state,” where social media, if misused, could fuel violence or misinformation. Omipidan urged stakeholders to leverage technology for awareness, education, and advocacy.
Recalling a recent incident of abuse in a public school, where a three-year-old was assaulted by a teacher, Omipidan praised journalists for amplifying the case and triggering government intervention. This, he said, exemplifies how responsible journalism can catalyze justice.
“Reporting is not enough. Journalists must hold perpetrators accountable and dismantle the culture of silence that protects them,” he added.
Other speakers, including Mrs. Bisola Ariwodola, Osun State Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and Mrs. Aduke Obelawo of the Inter-African Committee on the Eradication of Harmful Traditional Practices, echoed similar calls for stronger synergy between the media, civil society, and government.
They emphasized the need for a unified, strategic response to eradicate gender-based violence in Osun State and across Nigeria.
The event concluded with a shared commitment to empower media professionals as advocates and watchdogs in the ongoing struggle against GBV—turning influence into action, and headlines into change.
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