Dutse, March 21, 2025
The Challenge Initiative(TCI), a non-governmental organisation in collaboration with Development Comminication Network (DEVCOMS), has tasked journalists to utilise innovation in telling stories around Family Planning.
Mr Onche Odeh, a representative from DEVCOMS, gave the task during a Review meeting with Jigawa state Family Planning Media focal group in Dutse, Jigawa state capital on Thursday.
He said that there is need to raise awareness, amplify the marginalised voices, hold office holders accountable and influence public opinion.
According to him, “Speaking repeatedly about myth and misconceptions, can become a reinforcement.
“It needs to be dealt with carefully and in an appropriate way and its important to develop a core set of messages that are both compelling and easy to understand before communicating,” Odeh said.
He further tasked the network of the journalist working in Family Planning, to write innovative stories for impact, bearing in mind their audience.
Odeh further cautioned the journalists on the effective use of data and statistics on Family Planning to generate quality stories.
“Utilize social media and online platforms such as blogs and online publications to reach a wider audience,” Mr Odeh advised.
Social media he said, is increasingly becoming a primary source for news and information. Journalists can use it to their advantage by directly communicating the message to their audience.
In his remarks at the meeting, the Mr Ankale Kongude, TVI’s Program Manager, also advocated for more media engagement on Family Planning in Jigawa state.
He stressed that the main pressing issue concerning Family Planning in Jigawa state is commodity procurement, saying that the media needs to put more effort in advocating for commodity availability.
According to him, The last time the state procured commodities was in 2022, saying that there was budget allocation for the commodity in 2023 and 2024, yet they were never purchased.
He thus reminded the team about the goal of TCI, which he said was about Implimentation, Efficiency, Sustainability and Self reliance.
“We have worked in 12 states during the second phase of our project and the project was conducted in learning circle of three stages.
“Jigawa state is now on the third stage and is on verge of graduating in June 2025.” He explained.
He therefore, called on the state to ensure sustainability of the project when TCI finally exits, although domestication of procurement of Family Planning commodity is in the pipeline.
In a virtual presentation, DEVCOMS’ Program Director, Mr Akin Jimoh, gave a highlight of states’ performance in producing stories around Family Planning in relation to International Women’s Day, where Jigawa was rated zero.
He said that the project is focused on the needless deaths of women in Nigeria, saying that its a situation that needs policy reform.
Jimoh however, highlighted the need for the media to draw more attention on maternal mortality, unsafe abortion, unplanned pregnancy, lack of access to Family Planning and Child Birth Spacing.
He further suggested the need for feasible solutions to challenges on Family Planning and Child Birth spacing, harping on the need for political awareness on the issue.
Moreso, Jimoh called for collective efforts of stakeholders to beat the challenges associated with Family Planning.
Speaking on behalf of the Journalists working in Jigawa, the project’s focal person, Mr Muhammad Zangina, made a presentation on the journey embarked by the team since the inception of the project.
He admitted despite their efforts, there are still lingering challenges as identified by the team, which are associated with commodity procurement.
Zangina further appealed for more support from DEVCOMS and TCI, on order to commit more to the cause.
TCI Nigeria, promotes sustainability and local ownership, while demonstrate feasibility of long term investment in reproductive health.
It supports Nigeria in scaling up the positive changes in reproductive health, delivered through the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), from 2009.
The project is managed by The Johns Hopkins Centre for Communication Programs(CCP)and provides guidance to self-selected states, local government areas and partners willing to invest.
DEVCOMS is media-development, not-for-profit organisation and product of development projects on media, health promotion otion, Advocacy and capacity building in Nigeria and African media landscape.
By Aisha Ahmed
Dutse
