Male editors, media leaders, and gender advocates have renewed their commitment to improving the visibility and representation of women in Nigerian news at the ReportHer Training and the 2025 ReportHer Awards organised by Women Radio 91.7.
Women Radio CEO Toun Okewale-Sonaiya urged editors to prioritize equitable coverage, noting that although women make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, they remain significantly underreported. She encouraged newsrooms to proactively spotlight women and use existing databases of female experts.
Radio presenter Funmi Bamgbala highlighted that women appear in only 21% of news content, stressing that balanced representation is essential for newsroom credibility.
Media expert Lanre Arogundade called on journalists to support gender inclusion as a national priority, referencing the proposed Reserved Seats for Women Bill and voter data showing women constitute almost 47% of registered voters.
Facilitator Chinenye Anaemena advocated for inclusive representation of all categories of women and recommended the adoption of BBC-style gender sourcing audits to strengthen newsroom diversity.
At the ReportHer Awards 2025, several organisations, including the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), were recognised for advancing fair and balanced reporting on women.
Reporting by Wahab Akinlade