By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar

Gender and Development Action (GADA) has intensified its push for the Special Seats Bill aimed at improving women’s political representation by hosting a one-day media roundtable in Calabar.

The session brought together journalists and media practitioners to deepen their understanding of the bill, enhance reporting strategies, and strengthen collaboration with advocates working to expand women’s participation in governance.

Lead facilitator, Dr. MacFarlane Ejah, said the low number of women in politics is the result of entrenched structural barriers rather than a lack of competence. He noted that while Nigeria records just 4 percent female representation, Rwanda leads globally with over 60 percent.

Dr. Ejah described the Special Seats Bill as a temporary but strategic intervention designed to increase women’s voices in governance over a 16-year period and help Nigeria move toward the 35 percent affirmative action target.

He urged media professionals to embrace informed advocacy. “The media must speak from a place of knowledge and not as a commercial service,” he said, adding that women’s leadership potential should be recognized just as their contributions to homes and communities are acknowledged.

GADA Programme Manager, Nnenna Ugbor, stressed the vital role of the media in breaking the long-standing barriers that have kept women from political leadership. She explained that the bill also supports marginalized groups, including women with disabilities and young women frequently sidelined in policy discussions.

“This is about pushing and sustaining momentum. The media is a crucial partner in this process,” Ugbor explained.

The roundtable demonstrated GADA’s commitment to advancing women’s political leadership and securing broad support for the Special Seats Bill at both societal and legislative levels.