By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Pathfinder International Nigeria, in collaboration with partners, has trained 34 Nigerian journalists and social media influencers on Smart Advocacy for Strategic Action (SASA), with a focus on Family Planning (FP) and Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH). The two-day capacity-building workshop, held from September 25 to 26 at Corinthia Villa Hotel, Abuja, was organized in partnership with the Partners in Population and Development Africa Regional Office (PPD ARO) and Jhpiego, Kenya. The training aimed to strengthen advocacy around FP and MNCH and highlight their importance in Nigeria.
According to the organizers, the media play a critical role in shaping public discourse, setting the agenda, amplifying advocacy messages, and holding policymakers accountable to improve health outcomes for women and children.Speaking at the workshop, Pathfinder International Nigeria’s Senior Media and Communication Officer, Bayo Ewuola, said the initiative was designed to enhance participants’ knowledge of pressing health issues and provide them with tools to tell impactful, ethical, and solution-driven stories. “The main purpose of this workshop is to deepen understanding of FP and MNCH. These are not abstract concepts; they are about saving the lives of our mothers, sisters, daughters, and aunties—people who matter to us,” Ewuola said.
He added that the media are powerful drivers of change, noting that the training was intended to empower journalists and influencers to report accurate and ethical stories that move beyond mere headlines.
