Gender and Development Action (GADA) has held a one-day media roundtable in Calabar to strengthen advocacy for the Special Seats Bill, aimed at boosting women’s political representation in Nigeria.
The engagement brought together journalists and media professionals to deepen their understanding of the bill, refine reporting approaches, and enhance collaboration with advocates to amplify public support.
Lead Facilitator, Dr. MacFarlane Ejah, underscored the urgency of deliberate action to expand women’s participation in politics. He noted that the low level of inclusion is not due to a lack of capable women, but to systemic barriers that continue to hinder their progress.
Citing Nigeria’s current 4 percent female representation compared to Rwanda’s over 60 percent, Dr. Ejah described the Special Seats Bill as a temporary but necessary measure to strengthen women’s voices in governance over a 16-year period and move the country closer to achieving 35 percent affirmative action.
He urged the media to serve as knowledgeable partners in shaping public opinion and influencing lawmakers. “We want the media to speak from an informed position and advocate for this bill, not as a commercial venture but as partners,” he said.
Dr. Ejah added that if women are trusted with key responsibilities in homes and communities, their potential contribution to governance should be equally recognized.
GADA Programme Manager, Nnenna Ugbor, emphasized the media’s central role in dismantling long-standing barriers to women’s participation in politics and decision-making. She explained that the bill caters not only to women in general political appointments but also to marginalized groups, including women with disabilities and young women often excluded from policymaking.
“So how do we push and sustain this momentum? This is why we brought the media together. The media is a very serious and strong component in this whole idea,” she said.
The roundtable reflects GADA’s continued commitment to advancing women’s leadership in Nigeria and represents a strategic effort to secure both legislative and public support for the Special Seats Bill.