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Summary
Naija Feminists Media (NFM) has unveiled 16 media professionals from four countries for its inaugural Editorial Fellowship. Commemorating the 2025 #16DaysOfActivism Against Gender-Based Violence, the programme runs from October 27 to December 12, 2025. It aims to train journalists to report on femicide and advance women’s rights.
Naija Feminists Media (NFM) has unveiled 16 media professionals across four countries: Nigeria, Canada, Sierra Leone, and South Africa, for its inaugural Editorial Fellowship. The programme was launched to promote feminist journalism as part of the 2025 #16DaysOfActivism campaign against gender-based violence.
NFM is a revolutionary force committed to advancing women’s rights through media and grassroots activism. Beyond reporting on mainstream stories related to issues such as femicide, women in politics, sports, and leadership, NFM also produces thoughtful, educational articles that challenge misconceptions about feminism and promote a deeper understanding of the movement’s true purpose.
The fellowship marks a major step in NFM’s ongoing commitment to advancing women’s rights and gender-inclusive reporting across Africa. The initiative focuses on addressing femicide, the act of men intentionally killing women and girls, which remains one of the most underreported forms of gender-based violence on the continent.
The fellows of the NFM Editorial Fellowship include Precious Obiabunmo, Adanna Sophie Okorie, Patricia Sia Ngevao, and Ling Shepherd. Others are Yusuf Deborah Oiza, Fatima Mustapha Lawan, Jessica Onyemauche, Hadiza Ibrahim Ngulde, Ann Godwin, and Rosemary Nwaobasi. The list also features Olaide Fareedat Taofeeq, Maryam Umar Ayomide, Afolabi Funmilola, Faiza Jibrin, Miracle Adebayo, and Sanni Barakat.
The programme will run from October 27 to December 12, 2025, with a focus on gender-sensitive investigative reporting, ethical storytelling, and narrative writing, complemented by mentorship and collaboration opportunities.
During this period, fellows will be trained by Simbiat Bakare, Founding Director of Naija Feminists Media, who will lead a session on addressing misconceptions about feminism and the role of feminist journalism: its approach, purpose, and significance. Elizabeth Ogunbamowo, a researcher at DUBAWA’s Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, will cover investigative reporting, including ethical guidelines, essential tools, and impact-driven storytelling.
Ololade Ajayi, Chief Executive Officer of DOHS Cares Foundation, will explore femicide, relevant legislation, and data-tracking tools. Funmbi Ogunsola, NFM Community Engagement Officer, will discuss the 16 Days of Activism campaign, its history, progress, and this year’s theme.
Implementing the training, each fellow will produce an investigative story highlighting the realities, root causes, and possible solutions to femicide, to be published daily during the 16 Days of Activism campaign.
Speaking on the relevance of the fellowship, Simbiat Bakare, Naija Feminists Media founder, said,
“It is our hope that this fellowship will lead to public understanding of what femicide is, and will lead to the Nigerian government making legislation that recognises it has a growing problem on its own and a violation of women’s rights.”
At the end of the training, fellows will be recognised for their participation as agents of change through an official certification.
