Media Women Brainstorm On Leadership Participation
Hannah ARIKPO
Recently, in a one day media capacity training in Calabar, led by one of the UN Focal persons in Cross River state and Editor in Chief Nigerian Chronicle in Calabar, Comrade Florence Oluohu, media practitioners converged to brainstorm on strategies that will encourage positive response towards women participation in leadership positions in the state.
The media professional capacity building training was held under the auspices of the Advance Women's Political Participation (AWPP) project, organised by ARDA Development Communication Incorporation in collaboration with UN Women and Global Affairs Canada, the project started its 3rd phase in 2024. It is a strategic initiative by UN Women aimed at supporting initiatives and fostering women’s full and equal participation in leadership and decision-making as well as ensure that women and girls benefit from gender-responsive policies and legislation that seek to address multifaceted barriers that impede their participation and inclusion as leaders and decision makers. The gathering also focuses on enhancing gender responsiveness of key democratic and governance institutions at federal, state and local government Levels.
Although, records have shown that the female population accounts for 49.3 percent of the total population in Nigeria, women still remain underrepresented in many spheres, including politics and leadership.
To address these persistent gender gaps in line with the country’s national and international commitments, UN Women, prioritised multiple partnerships including the Media to help explore areas that will motivate increased women’s participation in politics and public life in Nigeria.
To achieve this onerous task, there should be an aggressive online and offline media campaign to increase visibility and publicity for female aspirants during local government elections to garner public and community support for female aspirants during the local government elections and appointments.
Media reports can also cover Capacity Building for women organisations especially those interested in leadership positions and aspiring females with essential knowledge, skills, empowerment meetings and guidance covering campaign management, negotiation skills, public speaking, and advocacy strategies which can strengthen their confidence and readiness to contest elections. With continued support from stakeholders, including the media, women’s voices can be amplified, their leadership potentials realized, and gender equality achieved in political spaces.
Therefore, the Media and Society can synergize to
Strengthen advocacy for the passage of the Gender Equal Opportunities (GEO) Bill and the Affirmative Action policy.
Expand capacity-building programs to reach more aspiring female politicians at the grassroots level.
Deepen collaboration with political parties stakeholders to institutional commitments to gender inclusion. By doing so, these can boost the percentage of women in elective and leadership positions.
