United Nations Women and Canada in conjunction with ARDA Development Communication Incorporated have trained selected media practitioners in Abuja with technical knowledge and skills to enhance women’s representation in political leadership and governance
A statement issued at the weekend read: “To equip media professionals and organizations with technical knowledge and skills to enhance women’s representation in political leadership and governance, ARDA Development Communication Incorporated trained media personnel in Abuja under the Advance: Women Political Participation in Nigeria (AWPP) Project funded by the Canadian Government through the United Nations Women.
“The AWPP project addresses the challenges/barriers that hinder women from taking up political leadership positions in Nigeria while prompting the advancement of women in political leadership and governance.”
It explained that: “The AWPP media training is primarily aimed at building the capacity of media personnel/ professionals to actively play their role in pushing the constitutional gender agenda in the ongoing constitutional and electoral reform conversation while utilizing their platforms/media space to drive messages that empower more women to articulate their vision and agenda in political leadership and governance. The project will drive interventions that foster gender equality and inclusive governance in Nigeria, as well as promote gender policies that seek to enhance women’s representation in positions of leadership.”
ARDA Development Communication Inc. (ARDA-DCI) is a leading development communication non-governmental organisation in Nigeria. It is focused on fostering sustainable development in Nigeria and across Africa by adopting and implementing culturally competent methodologies through an audience-centric approach.
Over the years, ARDA-DCI has partnered with international organisations, including UNICEF, John Hopkins University, USAID, and other leading private sector partners, to implement various social and behavioral change communication projects.
According to the statement, the AWPP media training held in Abuja not only solidifies the message that women’s representation in political leadership and governance matters but is also a significant step towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 (target 5.5), which ensures women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.
