A groundbreaking entrepreneurship training program for female journalists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was flagged off by the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) on September 22, 2025. The initiative aims to equip 60 women journalists with practical skills, mentorship, and business development support to boost their financial independence.
Comrade Aisha Ibrahim, NAWOJ National Chairperson, highlighted the program’s potential to enhance participants’ self-reliance and improve their reporting on economic growth and SMEs. “I am happy this program has become a reality. My hope is that participants will benefit immensely,” Aisha Ibrahim said in a statement.
The training is seen as timely by FCT NUJ Chairperson Comrade Grace Ike, who stressed the need for women journalists to have multiple income streams. “My desire has always been that women journalists have sustainable side businesses,” she noted, appealing for financial starter packs.
NAWOJ FCT Chairperson Comrade Bassey Ita Ikpang urged participants to be open to learning and innovation. Mrs. Olabimpe Fawale of SMEDAN said the partnership seeks to empower women with tools and mentorship for sustainable businesses, embodying SMEDAN’s vision of an inclusive economy driven by empowered women.
The two-cohort training (30 participants each) is supported by ICSS and CAPSTONE, running through November 2025 with physical and online sessions focusing on critical entrepreneurship areas.
