Nigerian women have condemned the tendency for the news media to paint the womenfolk in bad light, at the slightest opportunity.
The women who spoke to PRNigeria and Economic Confidential teams specifically described as unfair a recycled false report which described Nigerian women as the most unfaithful in the world.
The report which has now been found to be baseless after a factcheck by PRNigeria claimed that Nigerian women were the most unfaithful in the world, a statement that the women vehemently disagree with. A considerable number of respondents emphasised the hardworking nature of Nigerian women. They pointed out that many women in Nigeria devote their entire day to work or trade to support their families.
“With such a busy schedule, it’s hard to imagine when they would find time to engage in illicit affairs with men,” one of the respondents said. Another respondent who didn’t mention her name expressed her dismay at the media’s portrayal of Nigerian women saying she was disappointed that the Nigerian media is joining others to misrepresent Nigerian women.
She stated that compared to women from other countries, Nigerian women hold strong moral values as they would never want to do anything that brings shame to themselves or their families, making them morally conscious individuals. Younger respondents were particularly vocal in their disapproval of the media report.
They believed that the report amounted to defamation of Nigerian women’s character. They questioned the accuracy of the data collection method used for such a claim and called for the removal of the report from the online media platforms. According to them, it is essential to provide a fair and accurate representation of Nigerian women.
“The belief among the women is clear, the report doesn’t align with the strong work ethic, moral consciousness, and values that Nigerian women hold dear. We need to set the records straight and uphold our reputation in a world where a lie that has been repeatedly told may soon begin to assume the status of truth in the minds of people,” a young respondent noted. By PRNigeria
This report is produced with support from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability project (CMEDIA) funded by the MacArthur Foundation.
