Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

A media and development communication expert, Dr. Mrs. Adebisi Adetunji, has called for greater inclusion of women in active politics, arguing that such a move would enhance the credibility of the country’s political landscape.

Adetunji emphasised the need for media practitioners to offer more support for women in politics through improved coverage and reporting of their activities.

She made the remarks in Ado-Ekiti during a one-day interactive session with media professionals in Ekiti. The program was organized by the African Radio Development Association (ARDA) in collaboration with UN Women and the Government of Canada.

The event, themed “Advancing Women’s Political Participation in Nigeria”, focused on increasing the number of women holding elective political positions in the country.

Dr. Adetunji stressed the importance of advancing women’s political participation through elected female candidates, highlighting the crucial role the media plays in influencing and enhancing women’s political representation.

She urged media professionals to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to support women’s participation in politics and governance. By leveraging both traditional and social media platforms, the media can help increase women’s involvement in political leadership.

“The inclusion of women in active politics will not only change the narrative but also elevate the number of women in leadership positions,” Dr. Adetunji asserted.

Addressing the low number of women in leadership roles, she argued that the criteria used to measure male politicians should be equally applied to female politicians. She further suggested that the training should aim to increase male support for women in leadership, and foster conversations on the topic from the grassroots level, while also empowering young women interested in leadership and governance.

“We cannot achieve a democracy that is truly representative of society’s needs unless all hands are on deck,” she said. “Women and men are both integral to the communities and nations they serve. Therefore, we need both genders at the helm of leadership to promote democracy and governance that meet the needs of the people.”

Dr. Adetunji emphasized that the objective of the program was to ensure that more women take on both selective and elective positions in upcoming elections. She pointed out that women should not be treated as placeholders in politics but should be actively supported in holding leadership positions.

She lamented that women’s political participation remains extremely low, with women occupying less than 10% of leadership positions. “We are striving for the implementation of the 35% affirmative action,” she stressed, “but currently, we’re far from that goal.”

Discussing the challenges faced by women in politics in Nigeria, Dr. Adetunji highlighted several barriers, including cultural restrictions, lack of mentorship, fear of the unknown, financial dependence, and insufficient support from fellow women during elections. Other issues mentioned were poor mindsets, lack of preparation and qualifications, and in some cases, a lack of support from husbands or families, as well as inadequate education.