CIVIL SOCIETY AND GENDER EMPOWERMENT IN NIGERIA: A SURVEY OF UNIVERSITY OF BENIN STUDENTS PERCEPTION

ABSTRACT

This study examined civil society as a strategic instrument for promoting gender equality and women empowerment in Nigeria. The study based on direct study of literature and survey questionnaire administered to respondents, investigate civil society and gender empowerment in Nigeria. It also reviewed the global and national actions aimed at promoting women empowerment and gender equality. The global actions as reflected in declarations, proposals, principles and legal instruments though commendable do not strategically address the conditions that make women vulnerable. This situation provided the context for the analysis of this study. The study revealed that the civil society given its pedigree particularly since the mid-1980s possesses the potentials, energy and dynamism that can be explored for the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment in Nigeria. The study further revealed that thus far, at the context of intercession, advocacy, communication and education the civil society has established relative high degree of success in the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment. The study revealed however that the civil society also has a lot of challenges to contend with, which must be resolved if the civil society can serve as a more strategic instrument for the effective promotion of gender equality and women empowerment in Nigeria. Consequently, the study suggested some strategic options on how to resolve the challenges of the civil society and tailor its strategic potentials, energy and dynamism toward the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment in Nigeria.