Young Female Professionals in Media, YFPM, on Saturday inaugurated its members and executive council in Kano, calling for greater gender inclusion and stronger female leadership in Nigeria’s media industry.
The inauguration, held on February 7, 2026, at the Tahir Guest Hall, Kano State, drew journalists, academics, government officials and early-career female media practitioners from across northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of YFPM, Maryam Usman Nagado, said the association was formed to address the challenges faced by young women in the media profession, particularly limited access to mentorship, leadership opportunities and professional networks.
She said, “This platform was established to support young women in media through mentorship, professional development and networking, while confronting the long-standing barriers that have hindered women’s advancement in the industry.”
Nagado noted that YFPM would prioritise professionalism, ethics and capacity building to prepare its members for leadership roles in journalism and strategic communication.
In his remarks, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kano State Government, Mustapha Muhammad, urged the newly inaugurated members to uphold ethical journalism and responsible communication.
He said young female media professionals must remain resilient and committed to high professional standards, especially in an era of misinformation and digital disruption.
An academic, Prof. Hadiza Ibrahim, highlighted the structural and cultural challenges confronting women in the media, stressing that confidence, intellectual capacity and continuous learning were essential for women aspiring to leadership positions.
“Women in the media must believe in their intellectual strength and continuously invest in learning if they are to break existing barriers and lead effectively,” she said.
Another speaker, Dr Bala Muhammad, called on media professionals to uphold integrity while embracing innovation in response to the rapidly changing global media landscape.
A major highlight of the event was the launch of the YFPM Calendar by the Executive Secretary of the Kano State History and Culture Bureau, Arc. Ahmad Abba Yusuf. The launch attracted financial contributions from stakeholders, reflecting growing institutional support for the association.
The Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, described the formation of YFPM as timely, saying increased female representation in media leadership was critical to inclusive public discourse.
He said, “For the media to truly reflect society, women must be adequately represented at decision-making levels. The state government will support initiatives that promote inclusion and professionalism.”
Members of the association were formally sworn in by a legal practitioner, Badiha Abdullahi Muaz, who charged them to uphold the organisation’s constitution and ethical principles.
Representatives of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists and the Nigeria Customs Service also addressed the gathering, calling for professionalism and stronger collaboration between the media and public institutions.
The inauguration of YFPM marks the beginning of a coordinated effort to enhance the visibility, influence and leadership of young women within Nigeria’s media sector.
