Invest in women, quicken Nigeria’s progress

AS the global community celebrates the 2024 International Women’s Day themed, “Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress,” today, Nigeria needs to push for reforms, investing in the social, economic, cultural, and political potential of women. Beyond the need for inclusion, the progress of the country lies in its action to foster equal opportunities for women in every sector of society.

Officially observed from 1975, the IWD is commemorated annually to raise awareness about women’s oppression and inequality and function, as a call to action for women to actively campaign for change. The IWD theme this year aligns with the priority theme for the UN’s 68th Commission of the Status of Women and examines pathways to greater economic inclusion for women and girls everywhere.

“The world is facing many crises, ranging from geopolitical conflicts to soaring poverty levels and the escalating impacts of climate change,” says the UN. “These challenges can only be addressed by solutions that empower women. By investing in women, we can spark change and speed the transition towards a healthier, safer, and more equal world for all.”

A 2023 survey by UN Women and UNDP shows that no country has achieved full gender parity. The report added that less than 1.0 per cent of women and girls live in a country with high women’s empowerment and a small gender gap.

A 2022 survey published by the World Bank Gender Data Portal shows that the labour force participation among Nigerian females is 52.1 per cent, while for males it is 65.5 per cent. Data compiled between 2016 and 2020 shows that while male Nigerian business owners are 66 per cent, female business owners are 34 per cent. A 2018 survey by the same source showed that adult literacy is lower among women (52.7 per cent) than among men (71.2 per cent) in Nigeria.

Politically, Nigerian women hold the short end of the stick. Women’s representation in the country has been on a downward slide since 2011 down to 2023. The number of women in the 10th National Assembly has fallen by 19 per cent, compared to the last NASS with women now occupying 3.0 per cent of seats in the Senate and 4.7 per cent in the House of Representatives, per the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“In the cut-throat, zero-sum game of Nigerian politics, novice aspirants lack political capital and a more competitive advantage in more competitive parties and positions,” says the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace charity.

Experts have noted that women who became prime ministers in countries such as the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Iceland, Italy, France, Denmark, and New Zealand, have demonstrated innovative and effective leadership and offered unique and fresh perspectives on the challenges faced by their countries.

Objective analyses have shown that countries where women have equal opportunities and rights in terms of education, economic empowerment, policies, social welfare, and healthcare, are usually more progressive than otherwise. A 2022 World Bank report says that at present, just 14 countries – all high-income economies – have laws that give women the same rights as men. The report also indicated that nearly 2.4 billion women of working age still lack the same rights as men.

Governments in Nigeria need to institute reforms that would ensure that women are invested in to quicken the country’s progress. Certain cultural or religious norms that oppress and repress women should be jettisoned. There should be deliberate policies to address poverty by empowering women and girls and enabling them equal access to education, politics and financial opportunities.