WARRI – As the 2019 General Elections draw near, the media has been reminded of its role at ensuring equity in the political space.

Funke Treasure Durodola of the Federal Radio Nigeria (FRCN) , Lagos , made this known while delivering a paper on
“Mainstreaming Reports of Gender and People Living With Disabilities in the Electoral Process” at a two day media workshop organised for
journalists by the International Press Centre, (IPC) , Lagos , under the component 4b of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Project held in Enugu state.

With 40 Journalists from the South-East and South-South Geopolitical Zone in attendance, the workshop was organized as part of efforts to build the capacity of journalists ahead of the 2019 general elections in order to commit to a professional conflict–sensitive, citizen-focused, gender-focused and digital reporting of the 2019 General Elections.

The Assistant Director (Programmes) ,FRCN , said that, participation of women in politics should be an integral part of the media agenda for the 2019 elections and beyond.

The ace journalist who regretted, that women are constantly on the peripheries of political process because their activities are either under reported, marginalised or even nonexistent, called on the media to increase the frequency and prominence given to gender issues (especially as it affects the womenfolk) and People Living With Disabilities,(PLWD) in Nigeria .

While calling on the media to actively canvass for the involvement of more women in Nigeria politics, she said, “as the media practitioners, you have the duty to expose violations of women’s right to hold elective positions, as well as challenge the stereotypes and structures that continue to reproduce gender inequality and discrimination against PLWD in Nigeria politics.

“As at today, only 4.states (Lagos, Ekiti, Bauchi and Jigawa States) out of the 36 states of the federation have domesticated disabilities law.”.

Durodola opined that, the challenges facing women in Nigeria politics among others are getting party nomination, registration challenges ,high cost of nomination forms , education , capacity. This she said , was disheartening.

While also suing for a law to guarantee the rights and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities, she called for media advocacy through news and programmes contents and orchestrate the presentation of public sphere as an inclusive domain for all.