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NMG and FP2030 partner to host summit to advance gender equality
FP2030 Managing Director of the East and Southern Africa Regional Hub, Dr Sheila Macharia receives a gift from Nation Media Group, Group Managing Director and CEO Geoffrey Odundo, after signing the formal partnership agreement for the upcoming NXT HER Summit at the Nation Centre in Nairobi on August 12, 2025.
Nation Media Group (NMG) has partnered with FP2030, a global family planning initiative, to co-host the NXT HER Summit in Nairobi from August 21 to 22.
The intergenerational conference aims to re-examine African women's representation in media through the lens of the Beijing Declaration's 30-year legacy.
FP2030, originally established by the United Nations Foundation, operates through regional hubs to advance reproductive health rights globally. The organisation collaborates with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to expand access to family planning services.
Speaking during the signing of the partnership, NMG Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Odundo said “the partnership could not have come at a better time.”
The East and Southern Africa FP2030 Director Sheila Macharia emphasised the summit's dialogic approach.
“We’re happy to partner with you. We're excited about next week,” Dr Macharia said, adding that “she is looking forward to the dialogues [in the conference].”
On her part, the NMG’s Chief Corporate Affairs and Partnerships Officer Monica Ndung'u echoed Mr Odundo’s words.
“Our partnership could not have come at a better time. In terms of reflecting on 30 years ago, but also in terms of looking ahead,” said Ms Ndung'u. “It's how we advance this more than just an event. As we have worked together, the way we have built this has been not just about next week.”
Ms Ndung’u added, “The key thing for us is thought leadership, advocacy, and storytelling. We appreciate your partnership, but even more, we see it as just the beginning.”
The conference, which draws inspiration from the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, aims to reframe how African women are portrayed, heard, and valued in the media. The summit will also explore both shared and unique challenges across sectors and regions.
The Beijing Declaration was adopted in 1995 and became a groundbreaking global framework for advancing gender equality, rooted in the belief that women’s rights are human rights. It outlined 12 critical areas of concern —including women and media, education, health, and power— that continue to resonate today.
