Gender discrimination, religious bigotry, cultural and traditional factors have been described as factors militating against women’s development in the country.
Speaking at a media training for political reporters organized by Women Radio with support from United Nations Women and the Government of Canada, in Kwara, the Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio, Toun Okewale Sonaiya decried that female politicians and leaders were not given adequate media coverage compared to their male counterparts.
Discussing the theme: ‘The 50:50 Strategy: An Inclusive, Responsive and Balanced Reporting’, Sonaiya said the importance of fair and balanced reportage of women in politics is paramount especially as we draw nearer to the 2023 elections.
“The media remains a powerful tool in shaping public perception and has a bigger role in emphasising gender-based political issues and as such participation of women in politics through the media should be an integral part of editorials and features,” she said.
The CEO also stressed the need for powerful Nigerian media outlets to “embrace and practice gender equity and social inclusion for a sustainable media environment.”
Emphasizing the role of women in society, a media expert and CEO of MODISULT Media Concept, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, said women are key players either as mothers, wives and daughters in various homes.
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Giving reasons why women should be supported to assume political offices, Arowona said women are honest, trustworthy, authentic, supportive and empathetic, which according to him are the attribute of good leaders who should hold political offices and can deliver good governance to the masses.
Also in a presentation, another discussant, Hajia Binta Abubakar Mora, maintained that women were seen as disadvantaged in society, saying they were shortchanged in access to societal resources in comparison to men.
She called on the media practitioners to be at the forefront in encouraging women with positive reportage, even as the 2023 elections draw closer.
She said: “As of October 2017, out of 193 UN countries, 11 had a woman serving as head of state and 12 had a woman as head of government. Only ion nomadic countries are close to equal representation within parliaments with women making up to 41 per cent of their single-house parliament.
“Current trend in Nigerian politics shows that men are dominating the place of authority, with women relegated to the background. We need to make a difference by supporting women both men and women.”
Also in her presentation, the founder of Women Communications Centre, an Ilorin-based Non-Governmental Organization, Hajia Nimota Goroso Giwa, said women are part of the struggles in society in terms of pursuing sustainable Development Goals and are making a positive impact in society.
