The role of women journalists in nation-building towards the existence of the society, irrespective of the administration sailing the State and country at large cannot be overemphasised.

Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Waheed Odusile said this in Abeokuta, while declaring open a 3-day retreat session for members of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ogun State Chapter, with the theme: ”Media Equal Access for Political Participation and Reporting”.

Odusile stated that commitment to their professional responsibilities in society as women would go a long way in addressing character building towards the successful conduct of the forthcoming  2023 General Elections, among others, imploring them to be fair and accurate in their reportage.

Odusile who urged men of the pen profession to look at the critical elements in the Nigeria Union of Journalists, which tend to unite or divide it, charged members to play their role effectively in restructuring the union, to foster unity and growth.

Taking participants through the rudiments of election laws, the Deputy Director, Training, Voice of Nigeria, Mrs. Ugonma Cokey said journalists play an essential role in democracy, hence, the need to scrutinise and expose malpractice in elections.

On his part, a lecturer at the  Mass Communication Department, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Dr. Goke Rauf revealed that journalists should create a sense of patriotism in the course of discharging their duties in society and move beyond reporting political crises that could cause chaos.

Contributing, the Ogun State Director, National Broadcasting Commission, Mrs. Bose Williams urged newsmen to be objective in news reportage as their judgment must not overshadow the true event as it occurred.

Earlier in her address, the Ogun State Chairperson, NAWOJ, Mrs . Modupeola Sobukonla said the retreat was part of activities to celebrate the association's 2nd anniversary under her leadership, noting that as the voice of the voiceless and the fourth estate of the realm, there was a need for them to know what journalism and reportage entail, especially as the 2023 General Elections approaches, adding that journalists should be wary of information disseminated to the general public.