CEMESO, IPC, Others Task Osun Media on Disability-Friendly Election Coverage

By Omidiran Seun 

Media owners and managers in Osun State have been charged to make election reporting more inclusive by giving prominence to Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, and their political rights ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The charge was given on Wednesday in Osogbo at a media inclusivity reflection meeting organised by the Centre for Media and Society, CEMESO, the International Press Centre, IPC, TAF Africa and the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, NWTF.

The meeting convened media owners, editors, regulators and leaders of disability groups to fashion out strategies for balanced, fair and inclusive coverage of the governorship election.

In his address on the theme, “Understanding PWD Inclusive Reporting as a Platform for Promoting the Image and Issues Enhancing the Voices of Persons with Disabilities,” the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said the media has a duty to ensure no section of society is shut out of the democratic process.

Arogundade said the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, EU-SDGN, programme seeks to deepen democracy through broader civic engagement, equitable access to information and full participation of citizens in governance.

He described an inclusive society as one that embraces diversity and guarantees equal opportunity for all citizens regardless of gender, age, social status, location or disability.

He therefore urged journalists and media organisations to consciously create platforms for PWDs to air their views, engage political actors and participate meaningfully in the electoral process.

On his part, the Executive Director of CEMESO, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, said Persons with Disabilities enjoy the same constitutional rights as other Nigerians and must not be denied access to information or participation in public affairs.

Akingbulu called on media organisations to adopt disability-friendly practices, such as providing sign language interpretation, producing accessible communication materials and making their facilities PWD-compliant.

He also urged newsroom leaders to institutionalise inclusive editorial policies that will dismantle barriers limiting PWDs’ access to information.

Earlier, the Project Manager of NWTF, Malliya Manu, said the meeting was aimed at improving the quality, balance and diversity of political reporting by projecting women and Persons with Disabilities who are often underreported during elections.

According to her, inclusive journalism will strengthen democratic participation and ensure that issues affecting marginalised groups get deserved attention.

In their separate contributions, CEMESO Project Manager, Timothy Bamidele, and IPC Programme Manager, Mr. Sanmi Falobi, tasked journalists to sustain reportage of issues affecting women, youths, PWDs and other vulnerable groups before, during and after the election.

They stressed that inclusive reporting is critical to credible elections, stronger democratic governance and ensuring that no voice is left unheard.