Gumel, president of the NOC, urges the media to promote women in sports

The President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), Engineer Habu Gumel, has urged sports journalists to promote gender equality by giving greater visibility to female athletes, coaches, administrators and other women in sports.

Gumel made this request during the NOC Women’s Commission seminar for sports journalists in Abuja on Monday, October 26.

The NOC president said the media plays a critical role in shaping public perception of women in sports.

She said: “The media shapes narratives. What you write, what you say, what you show determines how the world perceives women in sport.

“If we want more girls to play, more women to coach, more women to lead, then we need the media to tell those stories.”

She highlighted that balanced and inclusive reporting would encourage more girls to participate in sports and inspire women to take up leadership positions.

Gumel said: “Therefore, this seminar is not just about sports reporting, but about changing perspective.

“This is about giving visibility to our athletes, celebrating our female leaders and encouraging more balanced and inclusive coverage of sports in Nigeria.”

She noted that the programs had helped build capacity, provide mentoring and inspire women to contribute more effectively to sports development.

The president described the journalists’ seminar as a strategic way to conclude the mandate of the current Women’s Commission.

She expressed satisfaction that her final program focused on the influence of the media in advancing women’s participation in sports.

The NOC president also praised the president and members of the commission for their dedication, commitment and contributions to promoting the interests of women within the Olympic Movement.

Gumel said: “I am proud to say that this Commission has not disappointed. Since 2023, year after year, they have organized high impact women leadership programs for female trainers, administrators, managers and technical officers in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

“They have built capacity, mentored and inspired. Today we meet for what will be the last program of this current Commission, as its mandate comes to an end, and I am particularly happy that they have chosen to end a Seminar for Journalists on this very strategic note.

She urged participants to make the most of the seminar by actively participating, asking questions and gaining the knowledge needed to become advocates for women in sports journalism.