The Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio 91.7FM, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, has reiterated the organisation’s resolve to foster gender equity within Nigeria’s media space as the station hosted the 2025 edition of the ReportHer Awards in Lagos.
The event, themed “Celebrating and recognizing media organisations that prioritise women’s representation and empowerment,” was aimed at strengthening national commitment to improving women’s visibility, leadership, and fairness in media representation and ensuring that Nigeria’s narrative platforms reflect equity, dignity, and shared participation.
Speaking at the ceremony, Okewale-Sonaiya described the event as a moment of fulfilment and gratitude, noting the remarkable turnout of media practitioners and the opportunity to acknowledge their role in amplifying women’s voices in public discourse.
She explained that the purpose of the awards is to recognise organisations that actively prioritise women’s representation, not only by featuring them in coverage, but by ensuring they are visible in data, quoted as credible authorities, and included in decision-making tiers within news institutions.
“The objective of the ReportHer Awards is to identify and recognise media houses that go out of their way to intentionally and deliberately report women,” she said.
She added that the evaluation extended beyond editorial content to workplace culture, including policies on maternity and paternity leave, childcare support, and flexible work arrangements.
“We looked at media houses that have more women in decision-making positions, and those that create a conducive environment for women in the workplace,” she added.
Okewale-Sonaiya stressed that Women Radio and its partner organisation, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), played no role in determining winners.
“There were three credible, independent judges. We did not influence their work at all,” she said.
This year, out of 72 nominations received, only four winners emerged, reflecting strict selection standards. Okewale-Sonaiya commended recipients, noting that one organisation offers six months of fully paid maternity leave with flexible arrangements afterwards.
“To all the winners, we say thank you for making it possible for women to thrive,” she said.
She urged the broader media sector to intensify efforts towards gender-sensitive reporting and inclusive newsroom culture.
“My message to every other media: let us do more in what we’re doing.”
Executive Director and CEO of WSCIJ, Moturayo Alaka, said the award represents a continuing effort to drive gender equity across sectors, particularly within media institutions.
“This event for us at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism is another push in addition to what many organisations and individuals are doing to ensure equity for women,” she said.
Alaka noted that although women and men are equals, access to leadership, political visibility, and economic opportunity remains imbalanced.
She emphasised that the media, as a “moral agency for the community,” must embody the values it advocates.
“The media must go to justice and equity with clean hands, so that within the media, representation is also balanced,” she said.
She urged organisations to examine their governance structures.
“Look at your board, see the gender composition. Are women decision-makers or only at the bottom? Have you created policies to raise women within your organisation?”
She also called for a shift in parental responsibility policies.
“Women take maternity leave, but do men take paternity leave? We also want them to stay home and take care of a child. You need a policy that supports that.”
Alaka further encouraged newsrooms to be deliberate about their sources and framing.
“The sources of your news are the female voices? Portray women as strong, capable, competent,” she said.
