Women in Journalism Africa, the yearly gathering of leading African women in the media has held the fourth edition of its conference in Lagos.
With the theme, “Pioneers, Innovators and the Brave New World,” the 2017 edition of the program saw wide-ranging discussions from diverse fields take place during three compelling panel sessions demonstrating the urgency of innovation in media and in journalism. Founder and Conference Director of Women in Journalism, Yomi Owope in his opening address shed more light on why this theme was chosen, stating that the 2017 conference was organized to “help participants better understand the nature and consequences of the changes taking place around them and how they can remain at the forefront of a profession that is today driven by technology.”
Speeches at WiJ2017 were delivered by the wife of the governor of Lagos State, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, represented by a director at the Lagos Water Corporation, Mrs. Bola Balogun and also by a director from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), veteran journalist Lami Tumaka. The keynote speaker at WiJ2017 was Anthea Garman, a professor of journalism and media studies at Rhodes University in South Africa.
Other speakers and panelists at WiJ2017 were Judith Okonkwo, Ikechukwu Obiaya, Toun Sonaiya, Stephanie Busari, Teju Ajani, Rich Tanksley, Doja Allen, Colette Otusheso and Dr. Anderson Emegbo. Preliminary discussions centered on how technology is redefining not just the practice of journalism but the entire media industry. The panel on innovation was particularly interesting and looked at the importance of leaders of organizations driving innovation that will continue to make them relevant into the future. The last session was the pioneers panel which spoke to women leaders in the media, exploring some of the qualities that unite them.
The highpoint of Women in Journalism 2017 came when five awards were presented to honorees for their outstanding work in their chosen fields. WiJAfrica Pioneer Awards were presented to co-founder of Channels Television Mrs Olusola Momoh and CEO of Ebony Life TV, Mo Abudu. Three WiJAfrica Star Awards for Innovation were presented to Toun Okewale Sonaiya of WFM, Lady Maiden Ibru of the Guardian Newspapers and Accelerate TV represented by its boss, Colette Otusheso.
See photos from the event below:
Yomi Owope, Lami Tumaka, Anthea Garman PhD, Adesua Onyenokwe, Judith Okonkwo
Rich Tanksley, Tosyn Bucknor, Judith Okonkwo, Teju Ajani
Dr Anderson Umegbo, Colette Otusheso, Ike Obiaya PhD
Anthea Garman PhD, Stephanie Busari, Toun Shonaiya, Tosyn Buknor, Doja Allen, Kris Ero
Adesua Onyenokwe, Dr Bola Balogun, Rich Tanksley
