Gender Inequality

In Nigeria, gender inequality persists, seen by disparities in education access, a significant gender pay gap, and prevalent violence against women. Structural barriers in education, wage discrimination, and cultural norms contribute to these disparities, pointing out the urgent need for specific interference to promote gender equality and ensure the safety and empowerment of women.

Visible Factors

Education

Only 22% of STEM graduates in Nigeria are women, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics

Nearly 2 out of 3 (about 6.3 million) of the country’s 10.2 million out-of-school children in the country are girls.

In Jigawa State, 94% of women (against 42% of men) are illiterate. As a result of these disadvantages, women are more likely to be poor than men, and keep being excluded from full participation in the country’s economic, social and political life

Gender Wage Gap

Disparities in wages and income levels between men and women highlight unequal economic opportunities and discrimination in the workforce.

The gender pay gap in rural areas is of 77% in Nigeria.

Nigeria ranked 123 out of 146 countries in the 2022 Global Gender Gap Report

Violence Against Women

In Nigeria, violence against women is evident in many forms, including domestic, verbal, and physical abuse, rape and sexual assault, early and forced marriages, incest, female genital cutting, acid baths and outright killing.

According to a 2019 survey by the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, 30% of Nigerian women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, and a shocking 68% have encountered emotional, economic, or sexual abuse.

Underlying Factors

Cultural Norms & Stereotypes: The males hold power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of the property. The majority of women are employed in casual, low-skilled, low-paid informal jobs; women are less likely than men to own land. Under a patriarchal system, the exclusive rule and control by men in most African countries including Nigeria have been a common practice over the years. This has continued through socio-cultural practices, such as child marriages, female genital mutilation, denial of inheritance rights, etc.
Early/Forced Pregnancy: High prevalence of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy perpetuates cycles of poverty and gender inequality, depriving girls of education, economic opportunities, and autonomy over their bodies and lives. As of 2018, half of women living in rural areas of Nigeria gave birth by the age of 19. In urban areas, the median age at first birth was higher (22.3 years). Forced marriages also occur in Nigeria, especially among the Muslim communities in the North, where the practice is prevalent due to cultural and religious practices linked to polygamy. In the North, forced marriage is common among urban and rural poor population, but not very common among the more educated.

Nigeria