Nigeria has the lowest female participation in politics in Africa, with just 4.1 percent representation in parliament.
The Executive Director of the International Press Center, IPC Lagos Dr Lanre Arogundade gave the information in Osogbo, during a two-day workshop for female candidates in the Southwest states and Kwara state, organised by the IPC and the European Union Support for Democratic Governance.
Dr Arogundade, who lamented the poor participation of women in politics, pointed out that much needed to be done to stimulate the female gender’s interest in politics.
He said Journalists remained an indispensable stakeholder in ensuring that Nigeria’s democracy is deepened with emphasis on inclusivity, particularly balanced gender participation, hence incorporating Journalists into the workshop to enlighten female candidates.
“Female candidates have a better understanding of engaging the media and engaging in strategic communication; and Female politicians have better knowledge of using social media platforms for effective campaigns created as well as get increased media visibility through special reports, interviews, and media profiling.”
Resource persons at the event urged female politicians to work on their media relations to get improved visibility which would influence the decisions of the voting populace in their favour.
In her presentation, the Chairperson of the National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Oyo State chapter, Mrs Jadesola Ajibola took the participants through the process of relating with the Media, advising them to build their individual capacity and being available at any time they are beckoned for interviews.
The Programme Officer of IPC, Miss Melody Akinjiyan, explained that the centre had embarked on advocacy since 2018 to increase the participation of women in politics.
She said the result of 2018 where ten women emerged victorious in their political careers encouraged them to relaunch the program, hoping that more women would take the opportunity as the 2023 general elections approach.
“We believe that there is room for improvement, which is why we are holding this training. We are not satisfied with the number of women in politics and that is why we are building their capacity to be able to work with the media because we believe that it is the media that can help to push these women into a lifeline to give them possibilities and visibility.
“We want to encourage women to be fully involved in politics that’s why we are holding this training so we can work together with the media because we know media people are stakeholders in politics,” she added.
Some of the participants, including Mrs Bose Oyebode from Osun State, Mrs. Favour Tomomewo from Ondo State and Mrs Fakunle from Ekiti State explained that her participation in the 2018 training boosted their morale and added much value to their electioneering.
Adenitan Akinola
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