Ahead of November 11, 2023 governorship election in Kogi state, journalists have been charged to be gender sensitive in reporting the election.
Mrs. Mufiliat Fijabi, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, who was represented by Vaneza Gregory, NWTF EU Project Coordinator, gave the charge while presenting a paper on gender issues and perspectives in reporting the governorship election at a two day media roundtable/engagement on Kogi governorship election.
The event was organised by International Press Centre (IPC) supported by EU-Support to Democratic Governance In Nigeria (EU-SDGN 11) COMPONENT 4: Support To Media held in Abuja on Monday and Tuesday.
While stressing the importance of diverse newsroom reporting of gender issues with women as priority in the Kogi governorship election, Fijabi urged practitioners to make issues of gender inclusivity an editorial perspectives, to encourage women in politics, particularly, towards making them take active part in the forthcoming November 11 governorship election.
She urged media professionals to promote inclusivity as a core value, noting that there was the need to challenge traditional norms and biases to breakdown barriers that limits women participation of women in politics.
“I task media practitioners to understand gender dynamics in reporting, avoid gender specific language and focused on policies and qualifications of women rather than to dwell on languages that affect women inclusivity in politics negatively.
“You should also endeavour to be fair and respectful in reporting issues of gender by being sensitive to Gender Based Violence and to report issues that will breakdown barriers for women” she stated.
