Gender Equality in Nigeria

The aim to empower all women and girls to ensure gender equity and ultimately end all acts of discrimination against the female gender.

The argument for or against gender inequality is a conversation that has remained in the corridor of global debate. In the past, some literature was of the opinion that gender inequality might actually lead to an increase in economic. However, it was revealed that gender inequality negatively impacts the economy. Gender inequality is a problematic issue as it lowers wellbeing and is regarded as a form of injustice in the very conception of equity.

Historically in Nigeria, certain tribes treated men preferentially for economic empowerment and inheritances. For instance, the Igbos do not include women or girls in a will when sharing land or another asset. Women are thought to be fit for the kitchen and assist with farm duties. This makes them dependents and subservient to their male counterpart Gender inequality is a multifaceted concept that incorporates both opportunities and outcomes. The latest review of the Nigerian economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed that closing the gender gap is key to achieving higher growth in the economy, enhancing productivity and greater economic stability

There has been a lot of advocacy by both the government and civil societies making a case for training the girl child and providing equal opportunities over the years. Over time, with the advent of western education, exposure and enlightenment, there is a need to see how the gap caused by inequality and discrimination against women has been bridged and to what degree. In Nigeria, women dominate the unpaid job sector, twice the figure for men. The economic value of females was projected to be about 30% of the gross national product. Like other parts of the world, women in Nigeria face several discriminations that limit their full capacity.

Gender refers to the roles, behaviors, activities, attributes and opportunities that any society considers appropriate for girls and boys, and women and men. Gender interacts with, but is different from, the binary categories of biological sex. Gender can also be the state of being male or female. Inequality, on the other hand, can be defined as a state of being unequal or unfair. Gender inequality is seen as the disparity between the male and female gender. The concept of inequality is broad; it is expressed over the entire population and captures those below a certain poverty line. Inequality is associated with segregation, economically or socially. The presence of barriers mostly drives inequality. These barriers hinder upward movement in social classes through income and wealth crystallization. These barriers give certain high-class people access to a better stake of societal resources, hence make them better off than those in the lower class

I therefore recommend that gender inequality in earnings can be solved by policies aimed at benefiting the female categories. Such policies should encourage their participation more in wage-paying jobs than the traditional house jobs that many have been relegated to do. Furthermore, the education of a girl child is important in bridging the inequality gap in earning