The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and the UN Women have called on media practitioners to give visibility to women to boost their political participation in the country.
At a two-day training workshop organised by CDD in collaboration with the UN Women for journalists in gender-sensitive coverage in Lokoja, INEC National Commissioner, Prof Antonia Taiye Simbine said the media should increase the reportage of women’s role and be strategic in seeking for more inclusion of elective positions especially as the 2019 elections is approaching.
Prof Simbine also called on the media to engage in sensitisation campaign that will encourage more women to participate in politics.
"The media should show more respect to the sacredness of fact among women and encourage them to participate in campaign and also to vote during elections. We should strive to improve women’s participation in politics through media coverage," she said.
She added that the media should project the plight of women positively and not work against their interest while calling on them to utilise the social media to create awareness ahead of next year’s election.
The erudite professor emphasised that the media should promote the fundamental right of all Nigerians both male and female while stressing that equal participation of both male and female is a key principle of democracy and a major means of achieving the sustainable development goals.
CDD’s country director, Idayat Hassan, in her remarks also urged the media to make the 2019 elections successful by bringing burning issues to the fore.
"The media should give priority to women who are contesting for elective positions and give them the necessary support. The media should deviate from painting women negatively and start portraying them in a positive limelight," she stated.
She added that the media should start engaging in advocay as we draw close to 2019 election.
Mrs Hassan also stressed the need to place gender issues on top priority both before and after elections so as to increase women’s participation in the future elections.
The Country Representative of UN Women, Comfort Lamptey, who was represented by James Bigila also stressed the need for media to play a bigger role in encouraging people’s awareness of gender equality and women’s political participation in Nigeria.
"The media should ensure gender equality because the media play critical roles, such as increasing the public’s awareness on gender equality, bringing to fore the issue of low representation of women in politics and providing positive image of females and telling women’s stories in a better way,” he noted.