UN Women, Nigerian Media Join Forces For Gender Equality

Abuja, Nigeria – UN Women has partnered with key media outlets to amplify the voices of women and girls in Nigeria, marking a significant step towards gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Using media to challenge gender stereotypes, promote inclusive narratives, and drive positive social change is the goal of this collaborative effort.

The initiative, launched at a roundtable discussion in Abuja, brought together CEOs and journalists from major media platforms across Nigeria.

UN Women Country Representative Beatrice Eyong highlighted the critical role of the media in shaping societal norms and influencing public opinion, stating, “Media is a tool that has been used over time to educate society and accelerate behavioural change, which is a necessary prerequisite for advancing gender equality and female empowerment.”

Eyong emphasised the alarming lack of women’s representation in Nigerian leadership, with only 4% in parliament and 17% in the Federal Cabinet.

She stressed the importance of women’s participation in decision-making for societal progress, urging media professionals to advocate for greater female inclusion.

The event culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UN Women and the CEOs of participating media organizations, establishing a framework for cooperation and collaboration.

The MoU aims to strengthen media advocacy for women’s economic empowerment, prevention of violence against women and girls, and increased representation and leadership in various sectors.

Supporting the initiative, Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation at the Canadian High Commission, Irish Irantalab Tehrani, acknowledged the progress made by the media in increasing voter awareness and encouraging young women to participate in politics.

However, he emphasized the need to address persistent gender stereotypes that hinder women’s full political participation.

Echoing this sentiment, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Fatima Talba, reaffirmed his commitment to reducing inequality and increasing women’s participation in Nigeria’s socioeconomic and political development.

He urged the media to hold the government accountable for women’s issues, emphasizing the urgent need to increase female representation in the National Assembly.

The roundtable saw strong support from prominent figures in the media industry, including National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Chris Isiguzor, National Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Aisha Ibrahim, and renowned broadcaster Moji Makanjuola.

The event highlighted the vital role of the media in shaping perceptions, promoting inclusivity, and driving positive change towards achieving gender equality in Nigeria.

As key stakeholders, media outlets are now committed to amplifying the voices of women and girls, challenging stereotypes, and advocating for a more equitable society.