THE MEDIA HAS DONE MORE HARM THAN GOOD IN RESOLVING GENDER BASED VIOLENCE, SAYS IBUKUN OTESILE

Olajide Oladokun
In training sessions on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Reporting, organized by the Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ibadan (UCJ UI) in conjunction with the Fellow of Female Reporter Leadership Program (FRLP), the Keynote speaker, Mrs. Ibukun Otesile, has stated that the media has done more harm than good in resolving gender-based violence. She also explained what Gender-Based Violence, sexual abuse, sexual assault are and what different factors that engender Gender-Based Violence, and its effects on the victims, their families, and society. She went on to list the media as one if the tools used to encourage Gender-Based Violence.
The training also had in attendance, Ms Zainab O Sanni, Deputy Head of News Room at Agidigbo FM, who discussed the need for impartial reporting of Gender and sexual-based violence. She emphasized the need to shift the spotlight of Gender Based Violence to show how both males and females are victims of this evil.
Mrs Ibukun Otesile also corrected some misconceptions and enlightened the campus journalists on how to help the survivors of sexual assaults through their reporting rather than complicate issues.
Speaking with the convener after the end of the program, Zainab Sanni who is also a fellow of Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative 2021 Female Reporters Leadership Programme, said the training was important to bridge the gap so women can be relevant in mainstream platforms and to ease their entry into the labour market when they are ready.
When asked how she will ensure sustainability of the knowledge gained from the training, she promised to take up 10 female campus journalists for mentorship and build a database in the University of Ibadan for women expert.
The training was well attended by Mrs Otesile of Oyo State Rapid Response Squad, Ms. Zainab of Agidigbo FM, Ms. Titilope Fadare, the President, UCJ UI, Ms. Rauf Fasilat, members of the Union’s Executive, as well as other members.