GENDER EQUALITY AND GOVERNANCE PARTICIPATION IN OREDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

ABSTRACT

The study examined gender equality and governance participation in Oredo local government area. The population of the study comprised employees of Oredo local government secretariat, young and older adults from Oredo local government area of Edo State which is given at 477,532. A sample of 300 was taken from the population using the Taro Yamane formular. The simple random sampling technique was used to select the respondents from Oredo local government council employees and the residents living in Oredo local government area. One instrument titled “Gender Equality and Governance Participation Questionnaire (GEGPQ)” was used to collect data for the study. The questionnaire was structured based on the research questions. The analysis was done using frequencies, percentages, mean for the research questions and Pearson Product Moment Correlation to test the hypotheses. Findings from the analysis revealed that gender equality and fairness in governance participation is not being observed in Oredo local government area. There are legal frameworks instituting gender equality with regards to governance participation. The result also showed that cultural and religious beliefs are among the major factors affecting women participation governance in Oredo local government area. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the prevailing trend of gender inequality and governance participation should be minimized by creating awareness through gender parity programmes organized regularly by relevant agencies and organizations in the community. Legal frameworks instituting gender equality with regards to governance participation should be further strengthened by discouraging stereotype platforms that gives preferential projections to male dominance in governance. Factors, such as cultural and religious beliefs should be properly streamlined to reduce to the barest minimum the restrictions placed on governance based on gender differences by relevant agencies and organizations saddled with such responsibilities.