The Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) held virtual meetings on 9 July and 23 July 2025 with mentors of the 6th Report Women! Female Reporters Leadership Programme (FRLP) participants to provide progress updates on their mentees’ story project, discuss challenges and propose solutions to support them in delivering impactful investigative stories.
The mentors include Idris Akinbajo, Managing Editor at Premium Times; Stella Din-Jacob, Editor-in-Chief and Director of News at TVC News; Juliana Francis, Publisher of Security News Alert; and Motunrayo Alaka, Executive Director/CEO of WSCIJ. Also present were Olaoluwa Adeleye, Programme Officer at WSCIJ, Emem Nssien, Collaborative Media Engagement for Development, Inclusivity and Accountability (CMEDIA) Finance Officer and Odinakachi Oko, intern at the Centre.
The conversation, which centred on how the mentors can further support their mentees in strengthening their story projects, also covered a proposed workshop with the mentees on investigative reporting, the deadline for the submission of their mentees’ stories, as well as a general overview of the Report Women! timelines ahead of the award.
The twelve participants – Aisha Gambo, Rasheedat Iliyas, Mary Agidi, Gloria Attah, Christiana Alabi-Akande, Bilkis Lawal, Melony Ishola, Temitope Obayendo, Juliet Buna, Dana Zagi, Chigozie Victor, and Jemilat Nasiru – have completed their leadership projects and are now focused on finalising their investigative story projects ahead of their award presentation as fellows.
