Gender Strategy and Advancement International ( GSAI) has called for a mandatory 5% quota of news coverage in Nigerian media to be dedicated to women and girls across key sectors including politics, governance, economy, security, health, climate change, and development affairs.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council Secretariat where the organisation presented research backed findings on the under-representation of women in the media.
Leading the delegation, the Executive Director GSAI, a broadcast journalist and producer of Gender Agenda on African Independent Television (AIT), Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack, said the initiative is aimed at correcting “decades of systemic exclusion of women in the media space”.
“Women’s voices are still treated as an alternative rather than part of the national agenda,” she said.
“If women are not visible before the primaries, they are already excluded from the political process.”
Citing data from the UN Global Media Monitoring Project, Ms. Adaora noted that only 25% of news subjects globally are women, while coverage in Nigeria is even lower. She highlighted that young women, rural women, and women with disabilities are “almost invisible” in the media.
According to her, over 45 women contested elections in 2023, but most lost at the primary stage due to lack of media visibility.Women are not losing because they lack capacity, they are losing because they lack visibility,” Adaora added.
The group is proposing that the quota should cover the following areas: Politics and elections, economy, business and finance, governance and public policy, security and peacebuilding, science, technology and innovation
Adaora stressed that the quota should be policy driven and introduced as a private member bill at the National Assembly, ahead of the 2027 elections.
Members of the delegation includes; Communication Lead,Khadijat Alkali Godwin, Head of Administration, Victor Chima, Contact Director, Ayoola Oluboron and WIMDI, Anele Lilian
On her part the Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Ms. Grace Ike while responding commended the GSAI for the initiative stating that NUJ would be at the forefront of the campaign and also visit media organizations to drive home the demands.
She reaffirmed the commitment of NUJ to promoting inclusive and equitable media practices during a courtesy visit by Gender Strategy and Advancement Internationals, a group championing gender justice and media accountability.
She noted that journalists have a responsibility to ensure balanced representation in their reporting.
“The media must be a space where every voice, not only heard voices, is amplified and represented fairly. We welcome partnerships that promote inclusivity, capacity building, and editorial accountability,” he stated.
The chairman further assured that the NUJ is willing to collaborate on training, research, and policy advocacy aimed at strengthening newsroom practices and ensuring fair representation of women and marginalized groups.
She expressed the readiness of the union to join in the advocacy campaign adding that the meeting was “a reaffirmation of a shared responsibility to build a media landscape where everyone is seen, heard, and respected.”
Present at the meeting are ; Vice chairman NUJ FCT, Yahaya Ndabambo, Secretary of Council, Comrade Jide Oyekunle, Auditor, Rose Ikoko-Tega, Ex- Officio, Ebriku John.
Speaking during the meeting, a representative of Gender Strategy and Advancement Internationals emphasized the need for fairness, inclusivity, and conscious bias training within newsrooms, while advocating for a 5% quota for women in media spaces.
“That means training ourselves and our colleagues on conscious biases, amplifying unheard voices, and advocating editorial policies that prioritize representation and equity.
Let this meeting be a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to telling stories in their fullness and truth so everyone sees themselves reflected and respected,” she said.
She expressed gratitude to the NUJ leadership and called for continued collaboration in advancing inclusive media for a more equitable future.
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NUJ Chairman Reaffirms Commitment to Inclusive Media as Gender Strategy Group Advocates 5% Quota for Women and hinted that the Council may issue a national statement during the 16 Days of Activism, calling on editors and media executives to support the quota.
“The message is clear. Women need more than five percent. NUJ FCT will consider taking leadership on this,” the official said.
The delegation also noted that NUJ FCT is strategically positioned to lead national advocacy, especially with the election of its first female Chairperson in 41 years, which they described as “historic and timely”.
Next Steps
Gender Strategy and Advancement International says it will continue consultations with media stakeholders, civil society groups, and lawmakers to advance the policy framework.
“Without women in media leadership, women’s stories will continue to be sidelined,” Ms. Forrester concluded.
“A functional democracy must reflect the voices of all its citizens — not just half of them.”
END
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