Women participation in democratic processes, key to inclusion

By Shafa’atu Suleiman, Sokoto

Active participation of women, particularly women journalists, in Nigeria’s democratic processes has been described as vital to building an inclusive and accountable society.

This was the consensus at the end of a two-day workshop on “Capacity Building of Women Journalists for Participation in Democratic Processes in Nigeria,” organised by Humint Development Consult Limited in collaboration with Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), PLAC, and PAAC, with support from the MacArthur Foundation.

The event which brought together 46 women journalists from Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States aimed at enhancing the skills of women journalists in promoting electoral reforms and fostering inclusive governance.

In his keynote address, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development, emphasized on the critical role women journalists play in setting public agendas and influencing electoral reforms. “Women journalists are vital actors in strengthening Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.

He said that female journalists had played a crucial role in holding leaders accountable, exposing corruption and electoral malpractices, shaping public opinion, electoral reforms and promoting transparency and good governance.

According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union IPU women only account for only 7.2 percent of the National Assembly, this falls far short of the 35% affirmative action target set by Nigeria’s National Gender Policy despite them comprising more than 50 percent of the country’s population.

While women journalists have significantly contributed to promoting electoral reforms through reporting and advocacy, they face challenges such as limited access to information, cultural biases, insecurity, and inadequate institutional support.

Resource persons including Hajiya Fatima Abbas Hassan, Dr Musa Umar, Prof. Hajara Umaru Sanda, Barrister Hafsat Sahabi Dange, and Prof. Yunusa Zakari Ya’u presented papers addressing media advocacy, gender equity, electoral mobilization, legal risks in journalism, and social media challenges.

Participants stressed the need for policymakers to institute mandatory gender quotas across all levels of governance, strengthen legal frameworks like the National Gender Policy, and establish funds to support female candidates. They also called for reforms within media organisations to promote gender equity and safe reporting environments.

The event underscored the importance of continuous training and mentorship for women journalists to amplify their voices and ensure their effective participation in shaping Nigeria’s democratic future.

The participants expressed gratitude to the organisers and pledged to leverage their media platforms to advocate for gender equity, electoral reforms, and good governance.