The Intersection between Gender and Policy In Nigeria – A Brief Think Piece.

by Esther Unugbua (Policy and Programs – Kobikam Africa)

Nigeria continues to face wide gender gaps in economic participation, political representation, and access to opportunities. While policy frameworks show growing commitment to gender equality, progress remains limited because implementation is weak, gender-disaggregated data is insufficient, and social and cultural norms continue to restrict women’s advancement.

To move forward, Nigeria must strengthen implementation structures, expand women’s economic access, improve data systems, increase women’s representation in decision-making spaces, and address the cultural and religious barriers that limit participation. Real progress will come not only from policy reform but from transforming the systems and norms that shape women’s everyday experiences.

“Recognizing that we cannot have an enduring change without gender parity and social inclusivity, the promotion and protection of the wellbeing of our population, and those at the periphery of economic development, is key to sustainable development.”

– Former President Muhammadu Buhari, National Gender Policy (2021–2026).

Background and Context

Nigeria has made notable progress in strengthening its policy commitments to gender equality in recent years. The revision of the National Gender Policy and sector-specific reforms reflect an increasing awareness of the need to create a more inclusive society. However, despite these improvements on paper, the reality for many women and girls remains largely unchanged. The gap between policy and practice is still wide, and there are several fundamental areas where meaningful change has not yet taken root.

Available data illustrates this clearly. Women’s labour force participation stands at 56%, compared to 80% for men, highlighting the persistent inequality in economic opportunity. Although women own an estimated 41% of Nigeria’s businesses, these enterprises tend to be smaller in scale and face significant obstacles in accessing finance and markets. Financial inclusion remains uneven: in 2024, only 52.2% of women had an account with a financial institution, compared to 74.3% of men. Representation is also extremely weak. As of February 2024, women held only 3.9% of seats in the national parliament, one of the lowest rates globally. These statistics are not merely numbers; they point to deep structural and cultural barriers that continue to limit women’s full participation in national development.

Beyond the formal indicators, the reality is often more complex and more troubling. A large proportion of Nigerian women work in the informal sector, where their labour is poorly documented and largely unprotected. Social, cultural and religious norms continue to restrict women’s mobility, their access to economic resources and, in some cases, their ability to pursue education or meaningful work. In many households, women must seek permission from male relatives, fathers, brothers or husbands, before engaging in economic activities. This leaves many women financially dependent and vulnerable, particularly in situations involving domestic violence or emotional abuse, where they lack the resources to seek safety or independence.

Recent public incidents underline how entrenched these challenges still are. The response to Senator Natasha’s experience – despite her being one of the very few women in federal legislative office, demonstrates how even women who have broken through structural barriers remain unsupported and, at times, actively undermined. If women at the highest levels of political representation are still met with isolation and hostility, the vulnerability of the average Nigerian woman or girl becomes even more apparent.

This context raises a crucial question: how do we ensure that gender-inclusive policies translate into tangible improvements in the everyday lives of women and girls? It is not enough to revise policy documents or host conferences. Nigeria must move from aspiration to action by strengthening implementation, closing critical gaps, and addressing the social norms that keep women at the margins. Meaningful inclusion is not only a human rights imperative; it is also central to Nigeria’s economic growth, global reputation and long-term stability. As a nation, we cannot claim true advancement when half of our population continues to face systemic disadvantage.

Key Policy Gaps

Despite Nigeria’s policy commitments, several structural gaps continue to widen the distance between intention and impact. A central challenge is the persistent weakness in implementation. Many gender-responsive policies and frameworks exist in theory, yet they lack the structures, resources and political will required for effective execution. As a result, progress often remains superficial, failing to reach the women and girls who need it most.

A major factor behind this gap is the chronic lack of gender-disaggregated data. Nigeria continues to rely heavily on external reports and international datasets instead of local systems for collecting, analysing and reporting gendered data. Without accurate and consistent national data on key areas such as labour participation, education, finance, health and violence, policymakers cannot identify gaps, track progress or design targeted interventions. The National Gender Policy recognises this weakness, but implementation remains largely unperceived.

Economic exclusion is another significant area of concern. Women face substantial barriers in accessing finance, land, credit and technology. Female entrepreneurs often operate on a smaller scale and with limited support, making it difficult to grow or formalise their businesses. These constraints reinforce cycles of poverty and limit Nigeria’s ability to harness the full potential of its population. Although women make up a large share of the informal economy, this labour remains largely invisible and unprotected, deepening their vulnerability.

The political sphere reflects an even more striking imbalance. Women represent only a fraction of legislative and decision-making spaces. In 2024, just 3.9% of parliamentary seats were held by women, one of the lowest levels globally. This underrepresentation has far-reaching consequences: laws and policies are shaped without the perspectives and lived experiences of half the population. Proposals such as gender-reserved seats in the National Assembly highlight the need for structural interventions.

Finally, deeply embedded social, cultural and religious norms continue to undermine women’s rights. These norms influence how families allocate opportunities, restrict women’s mobility and economic choices, and reinforce harmful stereotypes. Policies alone cannot dismantle these barriers. Without targeted efforts to shift mindsets and challenge discriminatory norms, gender inequality will persist regardless of how many new frameworks are developed.

The Intersection: Why Gender Must Be Central to Policy in Nigeria

Gender is not a peripheral issue; it cuts across every sector of national development. When women are excluded from economic opportunities, the entire labour market suffers. When girls are denied education, national productivity shrinks. When women cannot access finance, innovation and enterprise decline. And when women are absent from decision-making spaces, public policy risks becoming unbalanced, incomplete and detached from lived realities.

The disparities between men and women in Nigeria are clear across labour force participation, political representation, economic opportunities and financial inclusion. These disparities are not just statistics; they reflect systemic barriers that limit Nigeria’s progress. Addressing gender inequality would accelerate economic growth, expand human capital, reduce poverty and strengthen governance.

Moreover, gender inequality carries broader social consequences. It affects security outcomes, community resilience, public health and intergenerational wellbeing. The current gaps show that Nigeria is advancing in policies but lagging in practice. To transform this trajectory, gender must be treated not as a sectoral issue but as a core pillar of national planning and policymaking.

Policy Recommendations

To move from policy to meaningful impact, we must prioritise the following:

1. Strengthening of policy implementation frameworks: Development of clear, well-resourced mechanisms to ensure that gender policies are executed at federal, state and local levels. Implementation plans must include timelines, indicators and accountability structures.

2. Institutionalisation of gender-disaggregated data collection: Establishment and funding of systems across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to collect reliable, consistent gender-disaggregated data. Data is essential for monitoring progress and identifying emerging gaps.

3. Expansion of women’s access to finance and economic resources: Government and financial institutions should scale up collateral-free lending schemes, credit guarantees and gender-responsive financing for women-owned enterprises. Policies should also address barriers to land ownership and digital access.

4. Increase in women’s political representation: Support of measures such as gender-reserved seats in the National Assembly and enforceable quotas in political appointments. Representation must move beyond rhetoric to structural reform.

5. Addressing social, cultural and religious barriers: Implementation of nationwide awareness campaigns, community-based interventions and school-based programmes that challenge discriminatory norms and promote gender equality. Engaging traditional and religious leaders as key stakeholders.

6. Mandating periodic gender audits for organisations: Public, private and civil society institutions should undergo routine gender audits to assess inclusivity and compliance with gender-responsive standards.

7. Enhancing gender mainstreaming across government institutions: MDAs should incorporate gender considerations in budgeting, planning, programme design and reporting. Capacity-building for civil servants is essential to drive this shift.

Conclusion

Gender inequality in Nigeria remains deeply rooted in both structural and cultural systems. It is disheartening to see how often women must work twice, three times or even four times harder simply to access spaces that should be open to everyone. A nation cannot progress while half its population is held back by entirely preventable barriers. True advancement goes beyond policy documents, it requires a genuine transformation of mindsets, values and institutional practices.

Equity is not optional for a country seeking growth; it is a necessity. Nigeria must move with intention, not performance. The path forward lies in reforming systems, shifting social norms and ensuring that gender equality is embedded, not as an afterthought but as a foundation for national development. Only then can we begin to build a society that reflects fairness, dignity and opportunity for all.

References

ActionAid Nigeria. (2024). Press statement for Women’s Month: Accelerating gender equality. https://nigeria.actionaid.org/news/2024/press-statement-womens-month-accelerating-gender-equality#:~:text=Despite%20significant%20progress%20over%20the,and%20limits%20their%20economic%20impact

World Bank. (n.d.). Nigeria: Gender data portal. https://genderdata.worldbank.org/en/economies/nigeria

UN Women. (n.d.). Nigeria. UN Women Data Hub. https://data.unwomen.org/country/nigeria