Nigerian women have over the years emerged as critical stakeholders in the country. But that narration has not been well replicated in the appointive and selective positions for the women folk.

Reporting gender sensitive issues in the country have fallen short of achieving the necessary impact on the issue that affects women and children over the years. Women journalists in the country found reporting of gender issues a very challenging task and recommended that this needs to be addressed through training.

Recently, women journalists under the aegis of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Ilorin at the one-day Capacity Building Workshop on "Gender Sensitive Reporting for Women Journalists", organised by West African Journalists Association (WAJA), called for improved reporting on women, girl-child and youths issues.

The event was held at Kwara NUJ Press Centre, Ilorin, and attracted dignitaries and capacity builders from across the country. The representative of WAJA and facilitator of the event, Mrs. Veronica Ogbule, said that men have higher percentage of representation in government, despite the fact that women are far more in number than men in the society.

According to her, women are unhappy with Nigeria's 2016 budget which she described as "anti-women," adding: "60 percent of the populations in the country are women. We are not well recognised. Constitutionally, we have gender policies but they are not yet implemented and that is why female journalists should rise up to the challenges by reporting gender issues so as promote women. "I urge female writers to go the extra mile, use gender laws to investigate and report frequently on the yearnings and importance of women in the society."

Declaring the workshop open, the wife of the state governor, Omolewa Ahmed, who was represented by the deputy governor's wife, Mrs. Felicia Kisira, said it was important for women journalists to be trained as they have a lot to do in building the nation.

Mrs Kisira said that the Kwara State government was gender sensitive because it had empowered over 25000 women across the 16 local government areas of the state. She encouraged the participants of the workshop to put into practice what they have learnt from the training.

The National President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ), Mrs. Ifeyinwa Omowole, in her speech, said: "It is very important for female writers to use their pens effectively in contributing their quota to the nation building by reporting gender issues, especially matters that concern women so as to improve the standards of women and balance the gender inequality in the county."

She said that Women were underrepresented in Nigeria due to gender discrimination, calling on female writers to research, investigate, report issues affecting women and advocate for important roles women could play in developing the nation.

She said: "Female journalists should look beyond reporting government activities. Rather, they should be agents of change by encouraging women to stand up for their right and ensure gender equality in the country.

"Women are left behind. Even in our constitution, you will see 'the man shall,' nothing like the woman shall, which is unfair. After all, we are good managers. So, I urge women journalists to investigate how and why it is so. They should think on developmental issue that would emancipate, develop women for a greater society."