Encouraging women’s participation in politics: Insights from Modele Sharafa-Yusuf

In a recent interview on the ‘Interviewing The Interviewer’ series with Kikelomo Atanda-Owo, renowned female sportscaster and politician, Modele Sharafa-Yusuf, stressed the importance of citizen engagement in politics, particularly encouraging women to participate actively.

Expressing her motivation for venturing into politics, Modele highlighted the need to challenge the dominance of career politicians, stating, “we can’t leave the space for the same career politicians who have held us by the jugular for so long.” She emphasized her desire to contribute to the political landscape and advocate for change.

Transitioning from sportscasting to politics, she shared, “I stopped being an active journalist about 20 years ago, and I’ve done a lot of things in that 20 years span.” Her decision to engage in politics stems from a commitment to service and a belief that citizens should actively participate to influence positive change.

Modele addressed the challenges that hinder women’s involvement in politics, citing the financial demands and intensity of the venture. She acknowledged that women often face difficulties raising the same level of funding as men, and the time-consuming nature of politics can be particularly demanding for young women with familial responsibilities.

Recalling her gubernatorial aspirations in 2022, where she contested for the ticket in Ogun State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Modele acknowledged the competitive landscape of politics and the importance of women overcoming these challenges to contribute to governance.

Her insights shed light on the barriers women face in political engagement while underscoring the necessity of their active participation for a more inclusive and representative political landscape.