You have to decide where to belong as regards professionalism in reporting because ethics in journalism is not negotiable. It is either you decide to… - Chinyere Stella Okunna

Women are handicapped when it comes to politics and part of the handicap is religion and culture. I don’t think any culture in Nigeria encourages women in this regard. May be Yoruba culture; but even then, most of our culture and religion in Nigeria don’t believe women should be in politics. Even up till today 2023, many men think women should not be in politics. If any woman wants to go into politics they shout: What is she going to do there?

As long as I can remember, women’s participation in politics and visibility in leadership positions have been major problems in many countries and not just in Nigeria. The entire world knows that women have not done well in politics in Nigeria. I’m sure you know there is supposed to be a gender policy in Nigeria which came to effect in 2006; affirmative action of 35%. The only time any leader approached that policy was the time of Jonathan’s regime and since then nobody is even trying and each time I think about women in politics and leadership, I like to give example from my own State, Anambra State. Anambra women are well educated, they are empowered. They are confident and knowledgeable about local and international affairs. Yet the number of women in politics in Anambra is laughable, so to say

Some countries allow the press to have that freedom unfettered. But in some places, there are impediments on the path of the media. Basically, the media often performs as well the political structure allows them to perform. We all know that in this part of the world, press freedom, freedom of speech and other watchdog functions don’t aways apply. Most government-media are practically lapdogs for the authorities.