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Ahmed Nasralla, president of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), has called for the fair representation of women in journalism in Sierra Leone.
In his address at the Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) Annual General Meeting, held on February 21, 2025, at the UNIMAK Auditorium in Makeni City, Nasralla delivered a compelling address emphasising the critical role of women in journalism and the necessity of gender equality in the media sector.
Reflecting on the event’s theme, “The Role of Women in Media and Gender Equality: The Future of Women in Media Sierra Leone,” the SLAJ President highlighted the historical underrepresentation of women in media leadership positions and the challenges they face, including discrimination, harassment, and unequal pay.
During his tenure, Nasralla focused on tackling disparities within the organisation. As a result of his leadership, female membership in the SLAJ rose from 10-15% to around 30-35% by 2024. He emphasised the importance of female representation in executive positions and took the initiative to establish the SLAJ Gender Advisory Panel, which aims to promote gender-sensitive policies within the organization.
A notable achievement was the launch of the Gender Equality Policy for the Media, supported by the European Union through International IDEA. This policy aims to ensure fair representation of women at all levels within media organizations and foster mentorship programs for young female journalists.
Nasralla stressed on the importance of ongoing collaboration with WIMSAL to foster safer work environments and promote equal opportunities for women in journalism. He called on young female journalists to embrace courage, assert their presence in the field, and lead with integrity.
As his presidency nears its end, Nasralla acknowledged the collective efforts made to promote gender equality within Sierra Leone’s media sector. He stressed on the importance of sustaining this commitment for his predecessors in the future.
