First Lady urges Journalist on balanced reporting
By
Nov 16, 2009, 12:34

Citing lopsidedness in portraying Nigerian image, First Lady of Nigeria, Hajia Turai Umaru Yar’Adua has called on the members of Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) for a balance in news reporting.

Hajia Turai who made the call when she hosted members of NAWOJ in her office in Abuja on November 11, stated that Nigeria has a lot to show case to the international community nothing that in the current efforts at rebranding, women journalist should play a more significant role.

She charges women journalist to embark on intense sensitization campaign on cervical cancer HPV vaccine, many people especially those from rural areas are not aware of its existence adding that the issue of stigmatization suffered by many cancer patients can only be addressed through concerted efforts by the media.

The first Lady recalled how polio vaccine was rejected by some people and caution against the cancer vaccination exercise suffering the same fate. She however expressed optimism that through the activities of International Cancer Centre Abuja, awareness on cancer will be raised.
In response to NAWOJ request of piece of plot to build its national headquarters, the First Lady promised to intervene.

Earlier, the President of NAWOJ Mrs. Fatimah Abdulkareem intimated Hajia Turai Yar’Adua on the week long programme marking 20th anniversary of the association, part of which include Free Cervical Cancer Screening for the members and members of the general public.

First Lady was honoured as the Grand Matron of the association.
In a similar event, the First Lady played host to American students who are on Reading across the Continent visit to Nigeria. She commended the students on their revival of reading culture that is fast fading out.

Hajia Turai Yar’Adua told the gathering about her plans along with Ministry of Education to open small libraries in some schools across the country.

Project coordinator, Margo Ochoa said the International Reading Association is sponsored by United States (US) State Department which aims to impart cross cultural accommodation among students of different nationalities and it is a designed community programme.
International Reading Association has over 90,000 members in different countries; its presence in Nigeria is for over fifteen year Ms. Ochoa stated.

The association brought twelve students on the reading tour to Nigeria; the students attend Nigerian schools and partake in all the school activities in their brief stay of three weeks in the country. This is for them to know how it is to be a student in another country. Ten Nigerian students were in the United States of America in September, 2009 under the same exchange programme.

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