FG, AGILE ask media to Tell the girl-child story from position of strength

From Gbenga Adebayo, Lagos The Federal Government and the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, on Tuesday, called on media practitioners to portray girls and women from positions of strength, resilience and achievement rather than vulnerability and pity. The call was made during the launch of the Madubi media campaign and stakeholder […]

From Gbenga Adebayo, Lagos

The Federal Government and the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, on Tuesday, called on media practitioners to portray girls and women from positions of strength, resilience and achievement rather than vulnerability and pity.

The call was made during the launch of the Madubi media campaign and stakeholder dialogue held in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Said Ahmad, said the media plays a major role in shaping how society perceives girls and women.

According to her, many reports focus excessively on the struggles and vulnerabilities of girls without highlighting their strength, hard work and ability to overcome challenges.

“We report girls as weak and vulnerable, but girls are strong. We need to report girls from the position of strength, not weakness,” she said.

The minister noted that girls and women often carry enormous responsibilities from an early age while still striving for educational and professional success.

She added that media narratives should reflect the resilience, leadership and contributions of girls to society.

“If we want a better Nigeria, we must create opportunities for the girl child,” she said, stressing that equal opportunities for girls remain critical to national development.

Ahmad also urged journalists and content creators to look beyond physical appearance and sensational stories when reporting women-related issues.

“We should look beyond the physical. We should see women from the depth of their character, their capability and the impact they make,” she added.

Earlier, the National Project Coordinator of AGILE, Mrs. Amina Buba Haruna, said the $1.2 billion project is currently being implemented in 21 states across the country.

She disclosed that since implementation began in 2022, AGILE has provided conditional cash transfers to more than 1.8 million girls and digital literacy training to over two million girls nationwide.

Haruna said the project had also supported school renovations, classroom construction, provision of sanitation facilities, solar-powered infrastructure and alternative education opportunities for out-of-school girls.

She described the media as a “catalyst for change” capable of influencing public opinion and amplifying voices that are often unheard.

“The media is not merely a channel for disseminating information, it shapes opinion, challenges norms and drives social transformation,” she said.

According to her, the campaign theme Madubi, meaning “mirror” in Hausa, is intended to encourage society to reflect on barriers preventing millions of girls from accessing quality secondary education.

The event also featured panel sessions titled “Shaping the Narrative: How the Media Frames Girls’ Education” and “Digital Advocacy and Responsible Reporting.”

Speakers at the sessions stressed the need for journalists, broadcasters and digital content creators to tell stories that inspire confidence and empowerment among girls rather than reinforce stereotypes of helplessness and dependency.