Sekinah Lawal, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Media Career Development Network (MCDN) is a distinguished journalist whose outstanding performance in the various positions she has held in her career confirms that women are as capable as their male counterparts in the media profession.
In commemoration of the 2109 International Women’s Day, we reproduce below, part of the curriculum vitae of the distinguished journalist to advocate for the #Balanceforbetter campaign theme of the celebration.
WORK EXPERIENCE WITH DATE: With over twenty years of work experience, in addition to my responsibilities as a Line Editor, sometimes, I am responsible for writing stories, features, editorials and analysis; sourcing for stories, proofreading and editing pages for final production.
Now an ONLINE EDITOR, THE POINT NEWSPAPER, once an Assistant Editor, NATIONAL MIRROR from 2010-2016. I was also the Health Editor, National Mirror Newspapers. (January 2008 – June 2009).
As the CHAIRPERSON, NIGERIA ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN JOURNALISTS, LAGOS CHAPTER, the inner skill of mentoring and public speaking has been brought to bear on encouraging women and many young minds on positive mindset towards many issues such as good governance and having quality youths and women in leadership positions.
So also is the opportunity of being a Facilitator for various training programmes bothering on accountability in governance, peaceful coexistence, advocacy, citizens’ rights, positive masculinity, gender equality, youths and women in leadership, reproductive health matters among others.
*Senior Correspondent, National Mirror Newspapers. (March 2005- Dec. 2007)
- Senior Correspondent
2004 to 2005: National Interest Newspapers
Plot 70B, ACME Road, Funmec House,
Ogba, Ikeja-Lagos.
- Senior Staff Writer
2001-2004: Sweet Mother Communications Ltd.
Opebi Road, Ikeja, Lagos; Publishers of the Empress Magazine
1997-1998: Ministry of Information, Culture Youth and Sports, Umuahia, Abia State.
Youth Corp Member (Information Unit)
- Monitoring Public Enlightenment Programmes
- Writing Press Releases, Speeches and Articles
- Active Involvement in the Mass literacy Campaign and Mobilization Programmes
1995-1996: Magnum Gold Advertising Nig. Ltd, (University Industrial Training Programme) Off Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, Lagos.
- Worked at both the Copy and Client Service Departments.
1994: Paragraph One Nig. Ltd, Randle Avenue, Surulere, Lagos.
* Public Relations Assistant.
HOBBIES: Reading, Traveling, Gardening and Meeting People.
POSTS: Managing Editor, MASSCOPE Magazine, an annual magazine of the Mass Communication Department, University of Lagos (1994-1995).
Fellow, Health Writers’ Association of Nigeria.
Internal Auditor, Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos Chapter.
WELFARE EXECUTIVE, University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA)
Active Member, Women Wing of The Muslim Congress, AL-MUMINAAT.
Head Prefect, Female, Methodist High School, Abeokuta- Ogun State (1998-1990).
I have received a handful of honours and awards including JAAIDS’ Red Ribbon Award in Outstanding Informed Commentary on HIV/AIDS.
Best Health Correspondent (Print) Award 2008/2009 and 2010/2011 by Lagos State Government.
Best Pressman of the Year 2008 by Al-Wasi Schools, Lagos.
Best-Behaved Corp Member 1998, by Muslim Corp Members Association of Nigeria, Abia State Chapter.
Best Overall Student, 1990 Set of Methodist High School, Abeokuta-Ogun State among others.
I am computer-literate with excellent typing skills.
QUALIFICATIONS:
An alumnus of the prestigious School of Media and Communications (SMC) of the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, having taken a professional course in Advanced Media Management and Writing in a Digital Age (AMDA) 1st Class-2015.
Masters in Managerial Psychology from the University of Lagos.
1991- 1996; University of Lagos, Lagos – Nigeria: BSC Mass Communication.
1985 –1990; Methodist High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
1980- 1985; Owu Baptist Day School, Ita- Iyalode, Abeokuta- Ogun state.
EDUCATION, COURSES AND TRAININGS
I have attended many training workshops and conferences. These include;
- Advanced Writing Skill Course at the Lagos Business School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University, Lekki-Lagos.
- Fate Foundation Certificate in Basic Skills on Leadership and Entrepreneurship.
- Pan Atlantic University’s School of Media and Communication Course in Best Journalism Practices in the Digital Age-Enhancing Reporting Skills.
- Three-time participants at the World Peace Conference in the United Kingdom.
- Immersion Fellow Recognition Certificate.
- DAME Award on Developmental Reporting Category of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence.
- CNN African Journalist Media Workshop Certificate.
- Two-time recipient of the Lagos State Quality Health Reporting Award.
- Rotary International Award on Humanitarian Reporting
- British Council Certificate on training on Quality and Accurate Health Reporting.
- UNESCO Certificate on training on Safety of Journalists in Nigeria.
- INEC/NUJ Certificate on training on Gender Sensitive Reporting.
- Ford Foundation Certificate on training on Policy Analysis and Budget Tracking.
- Ipas training on sexual and reproductive health rights.
- Mobil’s training on Online Publishing and Social Media.
- World Health Organization, WHO’s training workshop on Health Reporting at Akodo Resort Centre in 2006 and at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja in 2007.
- Several workshops by UNICEF, DFID and others. One-week training workshop for Journalists by UNICEF in conjunction with the Bayelsa State government in June 2006 which took place in Yenagoa- Bayelsa State.
- Many National Conferences on Peace and Conflict Resolution in London, United Kingdom, Hajj Operations in Nigeria by the Nigerian Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs Council as well as on Roles of Zakat in Poverty Alleviation, Science and Moon Sighting among others.
- Journalists Against AIDS, JAAIDS, organized a week retreat for Health Correspondents on Monitoring Funds for HIV/AIDS at Gateway Hotel, Ota-Ogun State in October 2007, I was at the retreat.
- National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in conjunction with UNICEF organized 3-Day training for Health Correspondents on Salt, Sugar and Flour Iodization in Abuja in February 2008.
- I was at another 4-Day workshop on Budget Tracking organized by Development Communication Networks at Gateway Hotel, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State (April 2009).
- 2006 – Health System and Health Insurance Schemes Study/Capacity-Building Workshops, Lagos, 18-21 May 2006.
- A Training of Trainers Course in HIV/AIDS, Bayelsa, Nigeria, April 8-12, 2006, By Bayelsa State Government among others.
