Women’s underrepresentation in Nigerian politics is a well-documented issue that dRPC’s researches. This is highlighted by two recent studies by dRPC with support from Advancing Learning and Innovation on Gender Norms (ALIGN). These studies, “Gender Norms, Media Narratives and Women in Appointive Positions in Nigeria” and “Political parties’ responses to technology facilitated-GBV,” provide critical insights into media bias and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TF-GBV), respectively. Through two key projects one completed and one ongoing the dRPC is examining the role of gender norms, media narratives, and digital violence in shaping women’s experiences in politics, with a view to informing practical reforms and interventions.

The first project, titled “Gender Norms, Media Narratives and Women in Appointive Positions in Nigeria,” implemented in 2023 focused on how societal attitudes and media portrayals affect women’s access to political appointments. Despite years of advocacy for increased women’s participation in governance, women remain significantly underrepresented in appointive positions at both national and subnational levels. This study explored how deeply entrenched gender norms continue to shape public perceptions and influence decision-makers. It also analysed media coverage of female political appointees and aspirants in major newspapers and digital platforms.

The findings revealed that women in politics are frequently portrayed in stereotypical ways, with emphasis on their appearance, family life, or emotional disposition, rather than their professional qualifications or achievements. Such narratives reinforce patriarchal norms and discourage broader public support for women in leadership. Interviews with media practitioners and political actors also indicated a lack of awareness and intentional efforts to frame women as capable leaders. The project concluded that addressing these challenges requires gender-sensitive media reforms, training for journalists, and strategic partnerships with media houses to shift the narratives around women in public office. (See the https://www.alignplatform.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/nigeria_-_final.pdf)

The second project, currently ongoing, is part of a multicounty ALIGN-supported study titled “Political Parties’ Responses to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)” in Brazil and Nigeria, with dRPC leading implementation in Nigeria. This project examines how political parties respond to the growing threat of online violence targeting women in politics. TFGBV, which includes online harassment, cyberstalking, doxing, and threats, is increasingly used to silence or intimidate female politicians and aspirants. This violence deters women from participating fully in politics, especially in the digital era where campaigning and public engagement are heavily reliant on social media platforms. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, involving online data scraping and interviews with female politicians, party leaders, digital rights advocates, and civil society organisations. It also includes an assessment of party policies and codes of conduct to determine whether mechanisms exist to address online abuse.

Preliminary findings suggest that most political parties in Nigeria lack internal frameworks to recognise or address TFGBV. Women who experience online violence often do not report these incidents due to fear of stigma or political backlash. Additionally, party leadership often treats TFGBV as a personal issue rather than a systemic challenge requiring institutional response. Despite this, the study has observed growing awareness among women in politics about the importance of digital safety and the need for collective advocacy. The project is expected to generate evidence-based recommendations aimed at helping political parties, regulatory bodies, and digital platforms develop effective responses to online violence. These may include digital safety training for women politicians, the establishment of internal party reporting mechanisms, and collaboration with tech companies to improve content moderation and accountability.

Together, these two ALIGN-funded projects reflect dRPC’s broader commitment to creating an inclusive political environment where Nigerian women can participate meaningfully and safely. The focus on both traditional and digital arenas of exclusion from biased media coverage to unchecked online harassment dRPC’s work is helping to challenge harmful gender norms and catalyse reforms that support women’s political empowerment.

With funding from the Ford Foundation, West Africa Office, the dRPC , in January 2024, the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) launched an exciting new project – Muslim Opinion Leaders (MOLs) for GBV Prevention in Northern Nigeria, designed to address the increasing rates of GBV identified by the dRPC in a 2023 baseline study. Our new project builds upon 20 years of dRPC’s work engaging MOLs, strengthening and positioning them to communicate, advocate for, and model change to prevent GBV. With funding from the Ford Foundation, this project targets male and female Muslim Opinion Leaders (MOLs), equipping and positioning them to use their influence to shift attitudes, behaviour, and practices among the faithful, to guide the interpretation of religious precepts in state religious bureaucracies; and to increase commitment within secular government Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) to implement policies and laws which empower women and girls, protecting them against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).