Rivers Women Journalists Bag Two Awards

Following her commitment to issues affecting women and children and stern involvement in humanitarian services, the association of women journalists here in Rivers State now has in her kitty two meritorious awards within a space of three years.
The chairman of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ in the state, Mrs Okonkwo-Ogabu Lilian, made this known in an interview with The Tide’s women desk as she fielded questions on the activities of her association in the past three years.
Mrs Okonkwo-Ogabu, who hinted The Tide that the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists in Rivers State was honoured last year by the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, Garden City, for her humanitarian services, said  the association has also received another award from the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in the State, this time, in recognition of her partnership and commitment towards the protection of women and children in the state.
Commenting on the awards as  testimonies of NAWOJ’s roles towards humanity, She said apart from taking care of the capacity building of members of her association towards achieving professional excellence, Nawoj is also involved in fighting against social injustice against women.
“Basically, we have carried out a lot of campaigns against violence against women, community campaigns condemning child hawking in the street, obnoxious practices against women. We partner with FIDA who receive the complaints and uses us for publicity”.
She explained that NAWOJ Rivers is also a member of Rivers State Observatory group where it partners to kick against violence against women, while asking women to speak out. “I recall that not long ago, NAWOJ and FIDA did a non-violent protest by taking a walk to the commissioner of police against gang rape. There we asked for the arrest and prosecution of culprits of gang rape”, she added.
Mrs Okonkwo-Ogabu maintained that NAWOJ stands for equality of both sexes and against anything that is capable of pulling women down in the society. She called on women of Rivers State  to rise up to their rights and responsibilities using the window created by NAWOJ in providing a voice to their plight.