- Title: Safe space: Nigerian radio station gives women a voice
- Date: 14th February 2022
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Pidgin English) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR, ALICE OPEYEMI, SAYING: "I listen to their programme a lot, the programme has made me to know a woman has the right in her husband's house. If not women radio, my husband is one to say he will come and pack my load out of the house if you misbehave but they are the ones that made me understand that the right he has in the house, that is the same right I have.' LAGOS, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) MARKET SCENE VARIOUS OF WOMEN NEGOTIATING FOOD PRICE FEMALE TRADER SPEAKING VARIOUS OF WOMEN LISTENING TO RADIO RADIO PLAYING FROM A PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACCOUNTANT, JANET OKONKWO, SAYING: "The radio station is very okay because it is helping educate women to know the things that they need to know and also they are like a voice." OGUN STATE, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF PROGRAMMES, WFM, TEMITOPE OLALEYE, SAYING: "We cater to the woman, a woman from all levels of society whether you are from the grassroots whether you are middle class, upper class, lower class we cater to. So if its lifestyle, sports. If its to inform you, entertain you, if it educate you. We do programming around health, we do business, sports so we just try to have a balanced portrayal of women in the society." VARIOUS OF AJANMA WELCOMING A CALLER VARIOUS OF RADIO CONSOLE/CALLER SPEAKING SCREEN SHOWING RADIO SOFTWARE AJANMA'S HANDS
- Embargoed: 28th February 2022 13:29
- Keywords: Advocacy Nigeria Women radio Women rights World radio day
- Location: OGUN STATE AND LAGOS, NIGERIA
- City: OGUN STATE AND LAGOS, NIGERIA
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Africa,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA004FYNDIZB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Soomto Ajanma is a popular radio presenter in Ogun State, Nigeria, her 'adult conversations' show discusses real-life challenges women in the country face every day and gives listeners a chance to participate in finding solutions.
From politics to lifestyle and gender issues, Ajanma uses her show to sensitive the public and gives insight from a woman's perspective.
"A point that we are consistently harpooning on is the fact that we have these conversations, we put it out there, these conversations that are had, that typical will not be had and we get all these feedback from people because we are just speaking out and we are just making that voice, that female voice that will not otherwise be heard, be heard," she said.
Started in 2015 WFM 91.7, is Nigeria's first radio station for women and their families. It’s run by a team of women professionals.
Temitope Olaleye, head of programmes at the station says they want to help break the cycle of cultural silence.
"There was a need to highlight a lot of the issues that women go through. Most of the time in our society especially the Nigerian society there seems to be like a culture silence that is usually very, very common. For example now, if a woman goes through sexual and gender-based violence maybe like rape, battery or domestic violence, usually women don't really have a voice. Usually, they will keep silent to themselves or even if they want to speak up their voices are not really heard so one of the reasons why this radio station was birth is to give that platform," Olaleye said.
Cloth trader, Alice Opeyemi battled domestic violence in her home for 20 years.
After listening to a show on the station advocating for women rights in marriage and relationships, she decided to seek support from a non-governmental organization.
"I listen to their programme a lot, the programme has made me to know a woman has the right in her husband's house. If not women radio, my husband is one to say he will come and pack my load out of the house if you misbehave but they are the ones that made me understand that the right he has in the house, that is the same right I have," said Alice Opeyemi.
Nigeria with a population of over 200 million has set down legislative laws for women's right but still struggles to address issues affecting them, including violence, discrimination, inequality and lack of political participation.
In March 2015, the Nigerian legislative upper chamber voted down the gender and equal opportunities bill which aimed to accord women equal rights and impose measures to address discriminatory practices citing conflict in religious teachings.
While these issues hamper the advancement of women rights, ordinary people continue to seek change on platforms like radio and social media.
"The radio station is very okay because it is helping educate women to know the things that they need to know and also they are like a voice," accountant, Janet Okonkwo said.
"We cater to the woman, a woman from all levels of society whether you are from the grassroots whether you are middle class, upper class, lower class we cater to. So if its lifestyle, sports. If its to inform you, entertain you, if it educate you. We do programming around health, we do business, sports so we just try to have a balanced portrayal of women in the society," head of programmes, Temitope Olaleye told Reuters.
The station has a reach of over 10 million listeners streaming in the state and some parts of Nigeria's commercial capital city, Lagos.
The team broadcasts in other local languages on social media platforms and aims to start a non-governmental organization for victims of assault and gender-based violence in the near future.
(Production: Seun Sanni, Angela Ukomadu, Nneka Chile) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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