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ABSTRACT
The research reviewed concept of gender parity, gender equality framework, factors militating against gender parity was also reviewed, and also the situation of gender imbalance in Nigeria was also reviewed. It also looked at the role of women in nation building in Nigeria. The research applied both the primary and secondary methods of data collection and the main data instrument was the questionnaire. The questions were drafted using the research questions as a guide. The summary of the findings of the research are as follows; the survey showed that women in Nigeria continue to be marginalized in all spheres of life including economic development which may be attributed to patriarchal culture and legislative gaps. This is a critical issue that demands urgent intervention because gender discrimination is another form of poverty that could lead to underdevelopment, physical and psychological problems. It also hurts human capital and societal development. Despite some governmental steps towards equality, the glass is still only half-full: women continue to earn less than men, are less likely to make it to the top of the career ladder, and are more likely to spend their years in the sideline. It has been observed that Nigeria is plagued with issues relating to underdevelopment. Although there are some improvements in the developing countries, especially in Nigeria, yet in terms of women’s access to health and education, equality in economic and political domains remains elusive a view held by the World Bank. Poor economic development in Nigeria despite the abundant natural and human resources are often attributed to reduced role of women in politics. It is hard to achieve development in a patriarchal culture where women are denied leadership positions in the workforce, especially at higher echelons in organizations. The implications of women marginalization are detrimental to nation building and improved economic fortunes as a whole. Several researches have proved that women inclusion promotes performance; therefore, it is to the best interest of every nation to discourage marginalization against women and advocate gender equality. Discrimination against women means a waste of about 50% of the human capital of the nation hence an increased participation in the labour market will boost the economy. Although, Nigeria is a signatory in several international treaties on anti-discrimination, including CEDAW since 1985, and promulgated local policies such as the National Gender Policy (FRN (Federal Republic of Nigeria) 2006). However, equal opportunity remains an important cultural and structural challenge. Despite signing the CEDAW and the enactment of anti-discriminatory laws, gender inequality persists due to the patriarchal culture and religious norms that have a strong influence on the society (in particularly on women marginalization). The vague framework of the National law fails to recognize or refer to any existing legislation that seeks to protect women and promote gender equality.
