Journalists have been urged to give broader coverage of Women, Youths and People with Disabilities as they form integral part of the
electoral process.
This call was re-emphasised during a two day training workshop on public sensitization for participation of Women, Youths and PWDs in
electoral process organized by Institute for Media and Society, IMS, for broadcast journalists in Benin-city.
The participants at the training were drawn from the South-East, South-South and South-West geo-political zones.
In his opening speech, the Executive Director of IMS, Dr. Akin Akingbolu said the training which is a part of the support to Media
Component of the European Union and Support to Democratic governance in Nigeria was aimed at strengthening the media to provide fair, accurate and ethical coverage of the electoral process in the country.
Dr. Akingbulu who spoke through IMS Program Manager, Mr Sunny Dada noted that the training targets to explore how the media have engaged the marginalized groups in the electoral process with a view of developing
guidelines for media sensitization of the public on participation of women, youths and PWDs in the electoral process.
In a paper titled, “Overview of broadcast media engagement of marginalized groups in the electoral process”, a resource person, Dr.
Ifeoma Dunu suggests how media in Nigeria can broaden their narratives and adequately sensitize Nigerians on the need for enhanced participation of women, youths and people with disabilities in the country’s electoral process.
Dr. Dunu who is a lecturer with Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, described the media as the oxygen of democracy because according to her, it provides cognitive knowledge that empowers the individual to
actively participate in democratic process.
In another paper titled “patterns of media coverage of marginalized groups in the electoral process”, another resource person,
Funke-Tresure Durodola who stressed on the importance of having a comprehensive data of people with disabilities for proper inclusion in the electoral process, called for the provision of special tools like magnifier and shelters for them.
The training featured the development of guidelines for media sensitization of the public on participation of women, youths and
people with disabilities in the electoral process.
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