Pathfinder International Under SASA Project Train Journalist to Champion Family Planning and Maternal Health in Nigeria
By Ayeeshat J Ahmad
The Pathfinder International Under its Smart Advocacy for Strategic Action (SASA) project, in collaboration with PPDARO and Jhpiego of Kenya, organized 2 Day training to journalist and social media influencers to champion FP and MNCH in Nigeria
The initiative underscores the critical role of the media in setting public agendas, amplifying advocacy messages, and holding policymakers accountable for the health of women and children.
Speaking at the event, Bayo Ewuola, Senior Media and Communication Officer at Pathfinder International Nigeria, stated that the workshop was designed to move beyond abstract concepts and focus on life-saving storytelling.
KUMBOTSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL URGED TO PRIORITIZE LEGACY AND GRASSROOTS PROJECTS
President Tinubu Receives NMA Leadership, Reaffirms Commitment to Healthcare Reforms.
“These are not abstract concepts; they are about saving the lives of our mothers, sisters, daughters, and aunties, people who matter to us,” Ewuola explained.
“Media is very powerful in engineering change, and this training was designed to empower journalists and social media influencers to tell more accurate and ethical stories that go beyond headlines.”
Ewuola emphasized a deliberate push to bring FP and MNCH issues to the forefront in Nigeria.
The training equipped participants with techniques for investigative, data-driven, and solution-based journalism to highlight real-world challenges, policies, and community voices.
“We want journalists to serve as watchdogs, producing investigative and compassionate reports that not only inform but also drive policy change,” he added. “By framing issues differently and focusing on solutions, the media can contribute to saving lives.”
Echoing this sentiment, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, urged media practitioners to become champions for family planning to reduce the country’s high maternal mortality rates.
He described the training as “timely and critical,” citing concerning data from the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
“As journalists, it is high time for us to focus more on maternal health and family planning. Communities that embrace child spacing can reduce maternal deaths by up to 40%,” Yahaya stated. “This is not just a statistic; it is about saving lives.”
He commended Pathfinder International for its initiative, noting that such capacity-building empowers journalists to perform their role as a service to humanity and advocates for a healthier Nigeria.
The participants expressed strong commitment to applying their new skills. Nafisa Murtala Ahmad from Kano State, one of the attending journalists and program manager at Express Radio kano, promised to leverage the knowledge gained on solution journalism to promote FP and MNCH.
“I am committed to using what I have learned to tell accurate, ethical, and solution-focused stories that can make a real difference in my community,” she said.
The workshop is expected to significantly strengthen the ability of Nigerian media and digital influencers to drive narratives that inform the public, engage policymakers, and advocate for increased resources for women and children’s health.
The training take place in federal capital territory Abuja Nigeria bring together journalist from Kano Kaduna Lagos and Abuja to strengthen their capacity on family planning and Maternal health in the country.
However Pathfinder International is a global non-profit organization that focuses on sexual and reproductive health and rights.