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How Gender Inequality Impedes Development

By Margaret Mwantok
28 February 2016   |   1:29 am
In June 2012, the United Nations (UN) marked the 20th anniversary of the landmark Earth Summit, Rio 1992, with a conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Buhari

Buhari

In June 2012, the United Nations (UN) marked the 20th anniversary of the landmark Earth Summit, Rio 1992, with a conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. One of the major outcomes of the conference was international agreement to negotiate a new set of goals to guide the path of global development at the expiration of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. At the Conference, world leaders, along with thousands of participants from the private sector, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other groups, came together to shape how to reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection across the globe.

After three years of consideration, new set of global goals known as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were created. On September 25 2015, over 150 world leaders, including Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, gathered at the UN headquarters in New York for a three-day summit to formally adopt the SDGs.

The SDGs aim to end extreme poverty; fight inequality and injustice, as well as fix climate change. The underlying question behind the SDGs, which the UN asked leaders of governments, businesses and a civil society group is: “How can we make the world a better place?”

To leave a better tomorrow for the future generation, the challenges of widespread poverty and gender inequality among nations and within nations need to be tackled now. How can the goal of closing gender gaps be achieved in a developing country like Nigeria?

The 2012 Gender in Nigeria Report published by the British Council reveals that gender inequality not only exists in the country, but at high levels. There is a lack of gender balance in the economy, education, politics, health, access to justice and almost all areas of human development. The report says, “Nigeria’s 80.2 million women and girls have a significantly worse life chances than men and also their sisters in comparable societies; 60 to 79 percent of the rural workforce is women, but men are five times more likely to own land. In eight Northern states, over 80 percent of women are unable to read compared with 54 percent for men, just as 70.8 percent of young women aged 20 to 29 in the North-West are unable to read and write and only three percent of females complete secondary school in the northern zones. Nigeria ranks 118 of 134 countries in the Gender Equality Index.”

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigeria’s country Director, Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai said: “Everyone must be involved in efforts aimed at advocating women’s and girls’ equal rights, combating discriminatory practices and challenging the roles and stereotypes, which promote inequalities and exclusion. Gender equality, centred on human rights, is recognised both as a development goal on its own and as vital to accelerating sustainable development. In addition, when women and girls are exposed to education, they would be able to fully realise their rights in all spheres of life, human development will be advanced and societies prosper.”

Globally, girls are now as likely as boys to be enrolled in primary education and significant progress has been made in girls’ enrolment at the secondary and tertiary levels. Women’s voice and leadership in political decision-making has increased. In spite of all these achievements, however, many serious gaps still exist. Violence against women remains high and more needs to be done to prevent it, and prosecute perpetrators.

Bayei noted, however, that there still exist cultural practices that perpetuate discriminatory practices against women and girls, as majority of women and girls in Nigeria, occupy the sidelines, when it comes to decision-making processes. Sometimes, due to family set-ups, where girls are denied a chance to fully enjoy their childhood and education because they are given out in marriage.

“Women find themselves excluded from decision making processes, whether political or otherwise. For example, recent governorship elections held countrywide did not result in a female candidate winning any seat. In fact, the overall proportion of females in National Assembly has gone down. We need to get these basics right as a minimum so that they can have positive influence on policy decision-making”, he urged.

According to Bayei, Nigerian government has done a lot to ensure that Nigeria develops.
“Nigeria is now Africa’s largest economy. This achievement has come with its own challenges; addressing inequality is one of them, especially not carried along by the growth process. Therefore, specific interventions are needed to ensure that the economic growth achieved translates into improved living standards for the majority of Nigerians.”

The government is challenged with how to reduce the rise in income inequality, especially the gap between those parts of Nigeria that are more attractive to private investors and areas disadvantaged by their lack of what potential investors want, including infrastructure, skilled labour, security and acceptance of consumerism.

Though it appears that some Nigerian societies are naturally blessed than others, Bayei noted, “Every part of Nigeria has resources that could help drive the local economies and reduce the gaps. What is important is to ensure that a conducive environment, legal, political and security among others exist to facilitate full realisation of these states’ potential.”

In Nigeria, measurable progress has been made in empowering women in political, social and economic life. In the areas of political appointments and gender-friendly policies, former president Jonathan recognised women.

In the context of the SDGs, so much more needs to be done in other areas such as healthcare, education, business and access to opportunities.

Thus, this is the time to uphold women’s achievements, recognise challenges and focus greater attention on women’s rights and gender equality to mobilise all people to do their part. When gender inequalities are reduced, more children will go to school, families are healthier, agricultural productivity improves and incomes increase. There are a number of policies that promote gender equality in the country. What is needed is the implementation of these policies. The task to achieve equality lies in individuals, families, communities and society at large.

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