ISSN 2360-7963
Abstract
Women’s political representation in Nigeria remains among the lowest globally despite constitutional guarantees, international commitments, and affirmative action targets such as the 35% threshold articulated in the National Gender Policy. Women currently occupy a significantly small proportion of elective and appointive positions in the country, reflecting deep-seated structural, cultural, and institutional barriers to gender equality in politics (Inter-Parliamentary Union, 2023; UN Women, 2022). This article examines the critical role of the media in shaping public discourse, influencing policy debates on gender quotas and special legislative seats for women, and either reinforcing or challenging systemic gender biases. Media institutions serve as powerful agenda-setting platforms capable of shaping political narratives and influencing citizens’ perceptions of gender and leadership (Maxwell McCombs & Donald Shaw, 1972). Through a combination of literature synthesis, policy analysis, and a media studies framework, the paper argues that media narratives significantly affect both public perceptions and political will toward affirmative action and reserved seats for women in Nigeria (Pippa Norris, 1997; Karen Ross, 2017). The article further highlights the emerging media-led advocacy supporting the Special Seats Bill aimed at increasing women’s representation in Nigeria’s legislative bodies and proposes recommendations to strengthen media contributions to gender-inclusive governance (National Assembly of Nigeria, 2023; Centre for Democracy and Development, 2023).
Keywords: Affirmative action, Quotas, Bill, Representation, Gender Equality