By Ifunanya Ndigwe
Members of FFN at the event
In a display of professional excellence, a prominent member of the Female Freelancers Network, Theresa Moses, has hosted a successful training programme to help journalists lead campaigns against drug abuse across Nigeria.
The event, which took place at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Yaba, Lagos, was organized by the Nigerian Online Media Alliance under the leadership of Moses, who is the chairperson of the alliance.
A delegation from the Female Freelancers Network attended the event to support their colleague. Members of the network present included its founder, Elizabeth Osayande, alongside senior media figures Madam Joke Kujenya, Modinat Yusuf and the host, Theresa Moses. They all joined hands to champion the call for impactful journalism to tackle the drug menace in society.
The conference also drew top experts and leaders from the healthcare, law enforcement, and government sectors to train media practitioners on how to drive effective public awareness.
Speaking on the goals of the programme, Chairperson of the Nigerian Online Media Alliance, Theresa Moses, said the training was organized to guide journalists away from gossip and sensational reporting.
She stated, “The stories we tell, the language we use, and the facts we verify all contribute to shaping public understanding and influencing behaviour. Responsible journalism can help strengthen public awareness, reduce stigma, promote recovery, and support national efforts aimed at creating a drug-free Nigeria. Journalists occupy a unique position in society as educators and advocates capable of influencing positive behavioral change.”
Delivering a powerful message on behalf of media practitioners, Publisher of JKNewsMedia.com and Senior Investigative Journalist, Ms Joke Kujenya, reminded journalists of the responsibility they hold.
Kujenya noted, “Journalists are not the police, and we do not arrest traffickers, but we can make their hiding place smaller. Our role is to report facts, not to glamorize crime or scare people with rumours. When we report consistently and humanely, law enforcement acts, communities organize, and policymakers move funds toward treatment instead of just punishment. Drug abuse will not end with one headline, but it will not end without headlines.”
The training also featured vital insights from the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa, and the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr Olugbenga Owoeye. Both leaders praised the media alliance for bringing journalists to the forefront of the fight against drug demand.
The successful event shows the role members of the Female Freelancers Network continue to play in leading public health awareness and shaping important discussions across the country.