Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Lagos State Chapter on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wikimedia User Group Nigeria (WUGN) at Ladi Lawal Press Center, Iyalla, Alausa, Lagos.

Dr Adeola Ekine, Lagos NAWOJ chairperson said that the partnership signifies a significant milestone in the advancement of women in journalism and technology within Nigeria.

Ekine said that the collaboration was aimed at training and capacity-building opportunities for NAWOJ Lagos members, through empowerment with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their field of endeavour.

“Through this MoU, NAWOJ Lagos and WUGN will jointly organise workshops, seminars, and training sessions focused on enhancing the digital literacy and technical skills of female journalists in Lagos State.

“These initiatives aim to equip NAWOJ Lagos members with the tools and resources needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving media landscape,” Ekine said.

Speaking, Mr Olushola Olaniyan, President Wikimedia User Nigeria Group, said that International Women’s Day (IWD) usually mark significant global event dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements and advocating for gender equality.

Olaniyan said that since its inception in March 1911, IWD has catalysed collective global activism and celebration, bringing together individuals committed to advancing women’s rights and equality.

He said that the 2024 International Women’s Day celebration with the theme “Inspire Inclusion” is aimed at forging a more inclusive world for women by inspiring understanding and appreciation for their inclusion.

He said the focus was on creating a global platform for where women feel a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.

The body’s president said that the primary objective of the 2024 IWD event was to organise events for the celebration of women’s inclusion and achievements in their chosen fields.

He said that the event was also to echo the success of women who have excelled in various fields and use their experiences to encourage and inspire other women.

He said that the celebration would be conducted in a hybrid format to encouraged the participation of interested women who are not based in Lagos consisting of three main categories: Wiki Gap Symposium, Capacity Development and Writing Contest (Edit-a-thon).

Olaniyan said that the events would bring Nigerian women to join their counterparts from across the globe to proclaim the relevance of the theme for the year’s celebration.

Speaking, Mrs Aisha Cole, Assistant National Secretary, NAWOJ said that the collaboration between NAWOJ Lagos and WUGN would extend to the planning and execution of the International Women’s Day celebration in 2024.

Cole said that both bodies would organise series of events and activities to highlight the achievements and contributions of women in journalism, technology, and other disciplines.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as part of the partnership, NAWOJ Lagos and WUGN were poised to work together to leverage Wikimedia platforms and resources to promote gender equality and amplify the voices of women journalists in Lagos State.

It also reports that this joint effort underscores the importance of inclusivity and diversity in media representation and content creation.