Ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, media executives and other stakeholders have been urged to create platforms that amplify the voices of Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, on political participation and increase media content focusing on their rights and electoral privileges.
The appeal was made during a reflection meeting on media inclusivity in Osun State, organised by the Centre for Media and Society, CEMESO, the International Press Centre, IPC, TAF Africa and the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, NWTF, in Osogbo on Wednesday.
The gathering brought together media executives, regulators and leaders of PWDs to discuss inclusive reporting.
Delivering a paper titled, “Understanding PWD Inclusive Reporting as a Platform for Promoting the Image and Issues Enhancing the Voices of Persons with Disabilities,” the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, stressed the importance of inclusive journalism in strengthening democratic participation.
Arogundade explained that “the European Union Support to Democratic Governance (EU-SDGN) initiative seeks to expand and foster a pluralistic, inclusive, participatory and representative democracy in Nigeria through greater civic engagement and equitable access to information.”
He described an inclusive society as one that rises above differences in race, gender, class, generation and geography, while ensuring equality of opportunity and enabling all citizens to participate in shaping decisions that govern social interactions.
“The objective is to ensure that no group is left behind and that Persons with Disabilities are given opportunities to participate fully in democratic processes through fair and inclusive media coverage,” Arogundade said.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society, Dr Akin Akingbulu, said PWDs possess the same constitutional rights as every other Nigerian and should enjoy equal access to information and political participation.
According to Akingbulu, “media organisations should make their services more accessible by promoting sign language interpretation, providing accessible communication materials and ensuring facilities accommodate the needs of Persons with Disabilities. Media executives must encourage news organisations to adopt inclusive practices that remove barriers to information.”
The Project Manager of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Malliya Manu, said the meeting was organised to encourage media executives to improve the quality and balance of reporting on women and Persons with Disabilities rather than concentrating predominantly on male voices in political coverage.
In separate remarks, the Project Manager of CEMESO, Timothy Bamidele, and the Programme Manager of the International Press Centre, Sanmi Falobi, urged media executives to sustain editorial attention on issues affecting women, PWDs, youths and other underrepresented groups throughout the electoral cycle, saying inclusive reporting remains essential to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
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