It has been an avalanche of congratulatory messages for Abiodun Bonuola-Ozurumba, Assistant Director, Programmes (Languages) at the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a Content Generation and Production Trainer, following her successful completion of the Women in News (WIN) Global Leadership Accelerator Programme, Class of 2025. She emerged as one of only two Nigerians selected and certified under the prestigious WAN-IFRA leadership initiative.
The six-month global newsroom leadership programme, which ended recently, brought together women media professionals from different parts of the world and was designed to strengthen leadership capacity, newsroom innovation, and gender-inclusive media practices. The training covered intensive modules including Digital Safety for Media Organisations; Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI); Leadership and Management – Strategy 101 for Inclusive Organisations; Fact-Checking and Verification, among others.
Describing the programme as an eye-opener, Bonuola-Ozurumba noted that one of the most impactful aspects of the training was the peer-to-peer networking and coaching, which paired participants with coaches in their areas of specialisation, fostering deep professional exchange and cross-border collaboration.
She walked into the programme with earnest yearning for knowledge —ready to absorb everything new—and her dedication, curiosity, and passion for storytelling did not go unnoticed. The journey came with sacrifices: doubling up on training days, spending extra hours at the office to make up for time away, and constantly pushing herself to apply newly acquired knowledge in real-time newsroom situations. Refining production scripts with renewed insight and nailing radio subtitles made every sacrifice worthwhile.
From turning raw ideas into compelling stories, chasing down credible sources, to crafting killer headlines, she immersed herself fully in what she describes as the “magic of the newsroom,” now strengthened by global best practices.
Reflecting on the impact of the training, she said:
“My new Head of Department and mentors were stoked by my penchant for growth through yearly upskilling. They beamed with pride, their feedback was cloves of straight fire, and my contemporaries and subordinates began to look up to me as a rockstar.”
Now armed with advanced skills, a strong global network, and renewed confidence, Bonuola-Ozurumba says she is ready to take on new frontiers in broadcast journalism.
“I am ready to explore another aspect of the profession and add more value to my organisation by sharing my experience and learning at WIN with colleagues at the Monthly Post-Mortem Clinic I preside over,” she asserted.
She expressed profound gratitude to Women in News (WIN) for empowering her voice as a woman in the newsroom—one that now serves as a shield for vulnerable communities among colleagues, a strategic voice at management meetings, a negotiator across departments, a bridge builder across generations, and the embodiment of true professionalism.
Looking ahead, Bonuola-Ozurumba believes the programme has sharpened her resolve to advocate institutional change at the Voice of Nigeria. According to her, the organisation now urgently requires the introduction of a Gender-Based Violence and Harassment Desk, a clear Online Harassment Policy, and a comprehensive Programmes Standard Policy Handbook to strengthen professionalism, safety, and inclusion in the organization.