By Palma Ileye
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has appointed the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Dr. Olusola Odumosu, as Nigeria’s Focal Point for the project, “Monitoring and Reporting on the Safety of Journalists in Africa, with a Specific Focus on Gender.”
The appointment according to a press release signed by DSC Monica Ojobi, FCT CDPRO issued Thursday, followed Odumosu’s participation in a three-day regional training workshop held in Entebbe, Uganda, in November 2025.
The workshop brought together 30 participants from Cameroon, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia, including journalists, civil society representatives, law enforcement officers and legal experts from the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU).
The statement stated that, participants reviewed an online observatory developed to monitor and track attacks against women journalists in Africa and proposed measures to strengthen its effectiveness and coordination among stakeholders.
It stated that the training was organised by the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) and funded by the Government of the Netherlands through UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) adding that, it formed part of the second phase of the project aimed at applying modern technologies to improve mechanisms for monitoring and reporting attacks against women journalists across Africa.
According to UNESCO, Odumosu will receive and review reports of threats, harassment and attacks against women journalists in Nigeria and facilitate appropriate follow-up actions through designated national mechanisms. He will also work with relevant security agencies to ensure reported cases were addressed through official channels.
The appointment is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s compliance with international standards on freedom of expression and the protection of journalists.
It also positions Odumosu as the national coordinating link between UNESCO, government institutions, media organisations, civil society groups and security agencies on issues relating to the safety of journalists.
Reacting to the appointment, Odumosu expressed appreciation to the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, for approving his participation in the initiative, and thanked UNESCO’s Regional Office for Eastern Africa in Nairobi for the confidence reposed in him.
Describing the appointment as both an honour and a call to service, he said the protection of journalists, particularly women, remains a pressing concern in Nigeria and across the world.
“I appreciate the Commandant General for approving my participation in this noble assignment and UNESCO for the appointment. I will do my best to justify the confidence reposed in me,” he said.
Odumosu noted that journalism remains a noble profession and pledged to work towards strengthening collaboration among institutions committed to safeguarding women journalists.
He also promised to work closely with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), civil society organisations and other stakeholders to promote the safety and protection of female journalists in Nigeria and across Africa.
