By Kelvin Obambon
Gender and Development Action (GADA) has organized a one-day media roundtable aimed at sustaining momentum around the Special Seats Bill for women’s political representation in Nigeria.
The event, held on Thursday in Calabar, brought together journalists and media professionals to deepen understanding of the bill, explore reporting strategies, and strengthen collaboration with advocates to amplify the cause.
Dr. MacFarlane Ejah, lead facilitator, emphasized the urgent need for deliberate action to increase women’s inclusion in politics. “Women in Nigeria are not getting involved seriously, not because we lack competent women, but due to systemic barriers,” he said.
Dr. Ejah contrasted Nigeria’s mere 4% female representation in legislative bodies with Rwanda’s global leadership at over 60%. He highlighted that “the Special Seats Bill is a temporary measure aimed at increasing women’s voices in governance for 16 years, moving us closer to the 35% affirmative action goal.”
He called on the media to partner with advocates from a place of knowledge to influence public opinion and lawmakers’ decisions. “The media plays a critical role in shaping public opinion,” Ejah noted.
Continuing, he declared that “We want the media to speak from an informed position and advocate for this bill, not as a commercial venture but as partners.”
Dr. Ejah concluded with a powerful argument, stating that “If the women are strong enough to take care of our homes and care for us as mothers, why don’t we recognize the potential they have to bring on board to help us in governmental issues?”
On her part, Nnenna Ugbor, programme manager for GADA, stressed that the media is instrumental in achieving GADA’s goals of dismantling barriers to women in political positions, governance, and decision-making.
“The media is a very serious and strong component in this whole idea. So how do we push? How do we sustain this momentum? This is why we brought the media together,” Ugbor noted.
She also pointed out that the bill’s benefits extend beyond general political appointments, specifically catering to “the marginalized women, people who live with disability, and even young women too, in policies that are sidelined.”
Consolidating Ejah’s stance, the programme manager emphasized that the media must serve as partners, advocating from an informed position to shape public opinion positively before the bill comes up for a vote in the National Assembly.
The media roundtable is a demonstration of GADA’s commitment to advancing women’s leadership in Nigeria and reflects a strategic push to secure legislative and societal support for the Special Seats Bill.
