NAWOJ FCT Reaffirms Commitment To Women, Children As It Commends Leadership, Raises Alarm Over Insecurity in Abuja
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, has restated its commitment to championing the welfare of members, amplifying the voices of women, and upholding the rights of children, while calling urgent attention to rising insecurity in the nation’s capital.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its congress held on Saturday, 16th August 2025, the association lauded the national leadership under Aisha Ibrahim for successfully securing and paying for land allocated during the administration of past president, Ladi Bala, to build a long-awaited National Secretariat.
The move, members said, marks a historic step towards giving NAWOJ a permanent national presence.
The union equally commended the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mallam Alhassan Yahaya, and the National Executive Council for ensuring inclusiveness by bringing more women into leadership positions and giving NAWOJians active roles in the Union’s affairs.
On prudent management, the FCT congress hailed the judicious use of limited resources by the national leadership to advance the welfare, growth, and professional development of members across the country.
Turning to national issues, the communiqué raised concern over the alarming rate of insecurity in the FCT, citing the prevalence of “one chance” robberies, kidnappings, internet fraud (419), and other crimes. NAWOJ called on the FCT Administration to strengthen collaboration with security agencies to safeguard residents.
The meeting also decried the rise in drug abuse among youths, warning that the menace was fueling disturbing behaviours in public spaces.
It urged authorities to scale up awareness campaigns and enforce stricter measures to combat the scourge.
Women were further advised to be more security conscious by avoiding late-night movements and watching out for red flags in their environment, while government and security agencies were tasked with ensuring perpetrators of crimes face justice as deterrence to others.
In its appeal to religious bodies, NAWOJ charged faith leaders to reinforce moral teachings that promote godliness, honesty, and integrity, noting that many vices are driven by greed and the erosion of values.
Chairperson of NAWOJ FCT, Bassey Ita Ikpang, in her closing remarks, reaffirmed the association’s unwavering commitment to the mandate of protecting women and children while pushing for a better society through advocacy and responsible journalism.
The communiqué was drafted by Jennifer Okereke, Muplang Dakok, and Bernard Vivian, and signed by FCT Chairperson, Bassey Ita Ikpang, and Secretary, Nkiruka Okeke.
