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07030248044CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Nigerian women have made significant progress in breaking into the traditionally male-dominated arena of politics. Great women who fought for equality and political involvement in Nigeria have been recognized throughout the country's political history for enduring numerous trying and humiliating circumstances. Some of these challenges include male power play (manipulating and possibly rigging out women), the absence of funding for female politicians, and the beating of female candidates by the supporters of rival male candidates.Since Nigeria gained independence from British rule, discrimination against women, corruption of women leaders, non-participation of the beneficiaries in matters affecting them, and inadequate educational background have been the main barriers to women's ability to contribute to socioeconomic development. All of these characteristics, with the exception of the corruption of female leaders, received a mean score above 3.50 and were thus acknowledged as impediments to women's efforts to socioeconomic progress. Unlike men, women do not always have as simple access to the financial resources needed to carry out planned undertakings.
Women are only encouraged to grow food crops in some communities in Nigeria to support the family. Cash crops are typically produced under the direction of men. Half of the world's population, one third of the labor force, roughly two thirds of all hours worked, and one tenth of global GDP are all made up of women(Jekayinfa, 2008).According to Nkoyo (2002), women make up 36% of the labor force in Nigeria, 36.4 percent of rural residents live in poverty, and the lowest 10% of the population control only 1.6 percent of consumption or revenue, compared to the richest 10%, who control 40.8 percent of consumption and income. Nkoyo goes on to say that there is a very significant risk of social marginalization of the weaker sex in Nigeria. He based his opinion on the fact that Nigeria only devotes less than 10% of its Gross Domestic Product to education and that 48 percent of women in the 15 to 64 age group are illiterate.
According to Nyokabi (2007), "Primary source of data from comparative studies reveal that although women are performing a lot of work in the fields, traditional administrative structures frequently give men power and control." This serves as further evidence that males acquire wealth because they possess the tools of their trade, whereas women solely own domestic items. Oji continues by quoting Huntington (1975, 1009), who stated that traditional societies' institutions of government give women "roles that allow participation in economic life through their subordination to male interests, serves to increase male wealth and male power, and at the same time and by the same process circumscribe their participation in political life."According to Nkoyo's analysis, "men enjoy a higher standing relative to females in the economic and political realms because their activities give them access to and control over strategic resources." Additionally, women cannot inherit or access land in Nigerian society. Due of this, they are unable to engage in industrial farming. In contrast to their male counterparts, women also find it difficult to obtain loans.
There is a pervasive male bias against women. In some cases, projects started by women never materialize because their husbands dissuade them, possibly out of concern that their wives might become overexposed or begin to dominate them if they accomplish certain achievements. Few women who attempted to rebel against their spouses must deal with divorce, which sometimes happens as a result. Most women hide their talents under male dominance due to their fear of becoming divorced.
Based on all of these, it is recommended in this study that women be pushed to carry out their community development initiatives using a participatory, community-driven development method. This strategy, according to Jonah (2008), integrates social and economic goals with local initiatives to promote sustainable development. With this strategy, community groups can organize themselves to conduct actions that will advance their shared interests and objectives (Farzana, 2005). According to the participative community led model, investments in local organizational capacity and community influence over decision-making should be encouraged.This requires a structural shift on the part of the government that would not only ensure responsiveness to local demand but also empower communities, particularly women, to take action. The government could also provide incentives for women to participate in development programs, such as soft loans. They should be inspired to participate in the creation of businesses that will make money and advance socioeconomic growth.
Women should have the same easy access to financial resources like credit facilities that men do. Programs and services should be established by the government that are primarily focused on the needs of women in development. Nigerian women's limited participation in socioeconomic growth is also a result of their poor educational backgrounds. Therefore, it is important to support female education at all levels. Additionally, women must be given more influence. Additionally, it is urged that the government investigate into all forms of discrimination against women. Nkoyo contends that addressing gender perspectives in grassroots governance and development planning right away must take into account "women's role as economic agents, examining their bargaining position within and outside of households, their access to resources, and the size of benefits they derive."The government should make an effort to include women in important decision-making roles. Women might benefit from having these kinds of duties or jobs as a training ground. Additionally, they would strengthen their leadership skills and learn how to better organize themselves for a positive impact on socioeconomic growth. We cannot afford to undervalue the role that women play in development. Women can be thought of as the forces behind and carriers of growth (Mteshi, 2009). The socioeconomic development of Nigeria's local government system is heavily influenced by women. It's time to stop undervaluing women's contributions.
In Nigeria, women have participated in paid work, subsistence farming, and the unorganized sector. However, legal and escalating impediments to land ownership and access, the utilization of natural resources, access to cash and credit, lack of opportunities, access to resources for training and skills development, access to technology, and salary disparities all obstruct the advancement of women. In spite of all these issues, women have remained crucial to socioeconomic development, particularly agricultural development. In a large portion of Nigeria, women are the economic backbone. Women make up around 47% of the entire agricultural labor force, and they make up about 80% of the economically active female labor force.In most places of Nigeria, women's primary occupation is food production, and in many cases, their duties and labor contributions exceed those of males. Additionally, women perform a large portion of the labor used by males to cultivate export crops, with little direct reward to women (Mutume, 2004). It is based on this background that the present study seeks to examine the effective involvement of women in governance as a panaceas to Nigeria socio-political and economic problems.
Statement of the Problem
Nigeria's political growth has benefited greatly from the contributions of women. Through the voting process, they have played a key role in political engagement. But there is a disconnect between women's political engagement and their societal influence. In Lagos State, where women make up 60–70% of the population and 5% of Nigeria's overall population, women participate 60–70% of the entire amount in politics. Compared to their degree of contribution, women's participation in important development decisions is lower.As a result, there are ongoing trends and patterns of gender inequality in women's political engagement in the process of development. Hence, the present study is aimed at examining the effective involvement of women in governance as a panacea to Nigeria socio-political and economic problems.
Objective of the Study
The main objective of the study is to examine the effective involvement of women in governance as a panacea to Nigeria socio-political and economic problems. Other objectives of the study include;
Research Question
The following questions were derived in this study to give it a direction;
Scope and Limitation of Study
This study is limited to the effective involvement of women in governance as a panacea to Nigeria socio-political and economic problems. Participants from this study would be citizens from Nigeria who are going to be selected from Lagos State.
The main significant of this study is to examine the effective involvement of women in governance as a panacea to Nigeria socio-political and economic problems.
Findings of this study will help policy makers in Nigeria and the Nigerian government to know the challenges and factors militating against the participation of women in Politics.
The findings of this study will also help the government of Nigeria and the general populace to know the strategies to adopt so as to encourage women participation of politics in Nigeria.
The findings of this study will fill the dearth that exist in literature about the effect of involvement of women in governance as a panacea to Nigeria socio-political and economic problems.
The findings of this study will also help students and researchers who are interested in this topic to get adequate empirical findings that will make their study easy.
Research Methodology
Quantitative research methodology will be adopted in this study. This method of research involves the use of questions to get information from the respondents. The simple random sampling technique will be adopted using a cross section research design. Data retrieved will be analysed using Pearson multiple correlation and Chi-square.
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