Nigeria: A Call for Women Leaders
In June 2020, social media was in a frenzy with many calling for legal action under a list of hashtags following the sexual assaults and murders of several women in Nigeria; cases that are often neglected and dismissed by the Nigerian legal system. In 2016, just four years prior, women in Nigeria accounted for 4% of lawmakers. In 2019, Nigeria ranked 181 out of 193 countries, for female political representation. Gender imbalance has spread to all areas of Nigeria as a result of culture, religious beliefs and improper education. Women are considered to be subordinate to men and consequently, male dominance is heavily reflected in the political sphere of the country. Nigeria has a live female population of 102,906,333 (49.4% of total population) – Nigeria’s social and economic progress as a male-led/favoured country requires assessment.
To begin, the age of consent in Nigeria is often a topic of dispute with many believing it to be 11 years. However, by the Sexual Offenses Bill of 2015, the age of consent in Nigeria is in fact, 18 years. This confusion is brought on by ambiguity regarding the minimum age of marriage in Nigeria, the clashing of certain state laws that allow children as young as 12 to marry legally in Nigeria and the general disregard that follows women’s sexual health and protection. As of 2013, ¼ of Nigerian women were reported to have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and as mentioned above, the legal system does very little for justice regarding such cases. Furthermore, female genital mutilation (FGM), refers to the partial or total cutting/removal and sewing up of the female genitalia in order to control women’s sexuality, and to maintain ideas of modesty and purity in women. This procedure has no known health benefits and can instead lead to excessive bleeding, shock and death. In 2012, it was stated that 27% of Nigerian women between the ages of 15 and 49 were FGM victims. Nigeria till this day, accounts for the most FGM cases worldwide. These instances and many more are clear reasons for why the involvement of women in the leadership and decision making of Nigeria is crucial.
Female exclusion, however, is apparent in the leadership and decision-making of Nigeria. For example, in violation of Nigeria’s gender policy which calls for the President’s cabinet to have a female representation of at least 35%, female representation of the current cabinet amounts to 15%, with only 7 women out of 44 appointed ministers. Even more shocking, out of 360 House of Representatives seats, only 8 are occupied by women. Predominance of one gender in leadership directly impacts policy priority. In a country solely led by men, priorities have shifted away from the concerns of its women as is evident in Nigeria with laws existing that directly impede the progress of women and girls. For example, the Penal Code Act, section 55(1)(d) allows a man to assault his wife as a means of ‘correction’ as long as he does not permanently injure or kill her. Additionally, section 282(2) allows men to rape their wives as by law, a married man cannot be charged with the marital rape of his wife. The law deems that sex without the woman’s consent, when she is under fourteen years of age or of unsound mind, is considered lawful once she has attained puberty and they are married. Such laws would not exist with the jut of women in Nigeria’s policy-making but through the exclusion of women in these areas, a society exists where extreme physical, mental and social inflictions against women, are the norm. Women are marginalised in almost all spheres.
In the form of intimidation, sexual assault and violence, hinderances exist that have consistently pushed women in Nigeria away from leadership over decades. Several cases of violence against women surfaced during the 2019 elections, with severity going as far as multiple women reportedly raped. Subsequently, the women elected into office in 2019 accounted for only 4.5%, against the 35% female representation demanded by Nigeria’s gender policy. Quotas exist in Nigeria and have done for decades. However, quotas for women’s rights and gender equality have never been strictly adhered to in Nigeria which is only to be expected as a male-led/favoured nation.
Stated by the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) Chairman Madeleine Albright, “women in power can be counted on to raise issues that others overlook, to support ideas that others oppose, and to seek an end to abuses that others accept.” There is plenty to gain from women's political participation. Concluded from over three decades of global work by the NDI, women in leadership tend to:
1. work across party lines
2. be highly responsive to constituent concerns
3. help secure lasting peace
4. encourage citizen confidence in democracy through their own participation, and
5. prioritize health, education, and other key development indicators that build a sustainable future
Gender equality is arguably the most powerful sustainable development goal set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The coming to prominence of women in leadership and decision-making is a key aspect in driving social change and would be a point of vast development for Nigeria. The people in power reflect the nation and it is mandatory that 49.4% of the nation, being women, be accurately represented in leadership. Not only for the economic growth of Nigeria, but for the mental, physical and social wellbeing of the people, in general. Research shows that women leaders place focus on improving the quality of life. Government and stakeholders must take the necessary steps and participate in activities and events that promote the empowerment and leadership of women.
By Chioma Elsa Nwanna
myeconomicvisionboard.com
