Stakeholders have raised concerns about the critical state of women’s political participation in Nigeria.
They noted that the country ranks near the bottom in terms of women’s parliamentary representation, placing 184th of 193 countries globally.
At a one-day media capacity-building workshop in Lagos, managing partner at WGC Co, Dunsin Olusanya, underscored Nigeria’s dismally low female representation, with women holding only seven per cent of leadership roles and parliamentary seats.
This gender gap extends to federal appointments, where women make up just eight of 48 ministerial positions, further reflecting the gender disparity across state and federal levels.
Historically, Nigerian women have faced setbacks in political roles post-independence, with cultural, economic, and institutional barriers limiting opportunities for active involvement in government positions.
To address this issue, ARDA Development Communication, in partnership with UN Women, organised a training session titled “Advance Women in Political Participation.” The initiative aimed to equip journalists with skills to effectively report on women’s political engagement, thereby fostering societal growth and equal representation.
Olusanya, who facilitated the training, encouraged journalists to integrate women’s representation and viewpoints in political coverage and to actively challenge stereotypes.
She highlighted the disproportionate number of men to women in the National Assembly, stating, “We are holding this training to ensure women are well represented in politics.
Through the media, we can encourage women to participate in politics and leadership. The media is crucial in shaping public perception, and public discourse can underscore women’s involvement in political leadership.”
Olusanya also stressed the importance of addressing unconscious biases and stereotypes within media portrayals of women in politics and society. She noted that “violence against women – encompassing physical and psychological violence, intimidation and sexual harassment – deters women from participating in political leadership.”
