Women In Sports: Stakeholders At A Media Training Demand Fairer Coverage
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
For many girls in Nigeria, the dream of becoming a professional athlete is often challenged by gender stereotypes and limited opportunities.
This sports leaders say can change if the media can move from reporting their beauty to reporting their expertise or achievement
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day seminar for sports writers organised by the Nigeria Olympics committee in Abuja speaker after speaker including the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel; Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade; Chairperson of the NOC Women Commission, Professor Florence Adeyanju, President of sports writers Association of Nigeria, Benjamin Isaiah among others agreed that journalists can change the narrative.
Gumel said journalists play a critical role in shaping public perceptions of women in sports and encouraging more girls to participate.
“What you write, what you say, what you show, determine how the world perceives women in sports,” he said, urging participants to embrace fair, inclusive reporting that gives female athletes and sports leaders greater visibility.
He commended the Women Commission for its work since its inauguration in 2023, particularly its leadership programmes for female coaches, administrators, managers and technical officials across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Gumel described the seminar as a strategic way for the commission to conclude its tenure, praising its efforts to mentor and empower women in sports.
Olopade, while declaring open the training, recalled his advocacy for women’s recognition in sports and journalism, dating back about 20 years to an event in Abeokuta where he challenged the convention of addressing journalists solely as “gentlemen of the press”.
He said women had made significant contributions to sports and the media and deserved recognition and opportunities to advance.
The Director-General also stressed that accurate, balanced reporting is essential to building public trust and attracting private-sector investment to sports.
He urged journalists to seek explanations from relevant authorities, verify claims and give different sides of a story a fair hearing.
Olopade added that efforts are being made to secure greater representation for female journalists at international sporting events, while encouraging participants to uphold professional standards.
Earlier, Adeyanju said sports had traditionally been perceived as a male-dominated field, creating barriers for women and girls seeking to participate and excel.
She noted that women had continued to overcome these challenges, adding that sports help girls develop skills, confidence and resilience while creating opportunities that can benefit them throughout their lives.
She urged journalists to promote greater awareness of these benefits and report women’s sporting achievements fairly.
She also encouraged participants to share the knowledge gained at the seminar and support efforts to break gender stereotypes.
In a goodwill message, the President of SWAN, Benjamin Isaiah who also served as one of the resource persons, commended the NOC for organising the capacity-building programme, describing it as an opportunity for sports journalists to improve their professional knowledge and contribute more effectively to the development of sports in Nigerian.
He urged sports administrators, federations, commissions and other stakeholders to establish structured, sustained engagement with SWAN leadership at both national and state levels beyond the occasional invitations.
The seminar highlights the need for sustained action to expand opportunities for women across sports, as athletes, coaches, administrators, technical officials and journalists.
The speakers maintained that greater visibility, professional reporting and equal opportunities are essential to building a sports sector in which women and girls can compete, lead and succeed.
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