By GARBA MUHAMMAD

Pathfinder International Nigeria has equipped journalists with modern skills and appropriate terminology for reporting Family Planning (FP) and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) stories.

The two-day media capacity-strengthening workshop, held in Abuja, brought together practitioners from Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and the FCT, alongside policymakers from key development sectors, to chart a new course for improved reportage of FP and MNCH issues in implementing states.

Speaking at the training, Pathfinder’s Senior Media and Communication Officer, Mr. Bayo Ewuola, said the objective was to deepen understanding of critical issues in family planning and maternal health.

“These are not abstract concepts; they are about saving the lives of our mothers, sisters, daughters and aunties, and building a healthier, more prosperous future for our communities,” he stressed.

He expressed optimism that the media, as a powerful tool for social change, will help engineer a shift in public perception.

“The training is designed to empower journalists and social media influencers to tell impactful, ethical stories that go beyond headlines and resonate with the public and policymakers. For too long, these issues have been relegated to the back pages. It is time to bring them to the front,” Ewuola said.

The workshop also emphasized solution journalism, encouraging participants to move beyond blame to offering practical responses to gaps in FP and MNCH services.

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahyah, who took part in the training, commended Pathfinder for the initiative. He described it as timely, given Nigeria’s maternal mortality crisis, especially in the northern states.

“Any community that embraces family planning or child spacing reduces maternal mortality by at least 40 percent. Journalists must therefore become strong advocates for FP and maternal health, particularly in northern Nigeria,” he said.

In his presentation, Comrade Garba Muhammad, Co-Chairman of the Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM), called for the integration of FP and MNCH into High Impact Practices (HIPs) for better outcomes in the state.

He also highlighted the need for youth engagement, involvement of traditional and religious leaders, male participation, and adolescent-friendly reproductive health services. On financing, he urged for timely release of FP budget allocations, stronger accountability mechanisms, and expenditure tracking from state to PHC level.

“We need the media to set the public agenda, provide platforms for talk shows and awareness campaigns, track government commitments, and tell data-driven stories that promote accountability,” Muhammad, who also doubled as a media and communications consultant added.

Journalists who attended the training expressed gratitude to Pathfinder International and pledged to put the knowledge gained into practice.

Sahura Maidoki, a TV and Radio health reporter/presenter with the Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC), expressed commitment to using what she learned to tell accurate, ethical, and solution-focused stories that can make a real difference in her community.

Aisha Ahmed, a Kaduna-based social media influencer, said the workshop had deepened her understanding of family planning and maternal and child health issues.

Similarly, Jamila Yakubu Saidu, a health presenter with NTA Kaduna Zonal Office, noted that the training had strengthened her ability to drive talk shows that inform the public, engage policymakers, and push for increased resources for women and children’s health reportage.

Highlights of the workshop included paper presentations on key FP and MNCH terminologies, the role of the media in agenda setting, and state-level overviews from Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and the FCT.

•PHOTO: Participants and NUJ President Comrade Alhassan Yahyah (right)at the Pathfinder International capacity building training for journalists in Kaduna, Kano, Lagos and FCT to boost media coverage on FP and MNCH.