Despite ongoing efforts to close the gender gap, Nigerian women continue to face significant challenges in workforce participation, political representation, and economic inclusion.
Recent data gathered by RipplesMetrics from the World Economic Forum, the World Bank, and other organisations highlight a mixed picture of progress and setbacks for women in the country. Recently, the outburst in the National Assembly which led to the suspension of one of the female senators over alleged harassment sparked several reactions from the public.
This report examines several datasets regarding the challenges facing Nigerian women. RipplesMetrics had earlier reported the decade of underfunding Women’s Affairs, remained consistently below 1% of the annual national budget.
Gender equality
Nigeria’s gender gap has seen only slight improvements in recent years. According to the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index, the country’s score fluctuated between 0.64 and 0.65 from 2021 to 2024.
A score of 1 indicates full gender equality, while 0 represents complete inequality. While these figures suggest a slow movement towards gender balance, the stagnation over time underscores the need for stronger policies and interventions to accelerate progress.
Workforce participation
Women’s participation in Nigeria’s labour force has been steadily declining. Data from the World Bank reveals that women made up 52.2% of the workforce in 2023, down from 56.8% in 2015. This 4.6% drop raises concerns about economic barriers, workplace discrimination, and societal factors that continue to limit women’s employment opportunities. Addressing these issues will require targeted policies, greater support for working women, and initiatives to promote gender-inclusive workplaces.
Female entrepreneurship
Despite workforce challenges, Nigerian women remain a driving force in entrepreneurship. The Mastercard Index on Women Entrepreneurs (2021) ranked Nigeria fifth among African countries leading in female entrepreneurship, with a score of 43.8.
This places Nigeria just behind Botswana, South Africa, Ghana, and Madagascar. However, limited access to funding, regulatory hurdles, and societal barriers still pose significant challenges for women looking to grow their businesses.
Underrepresented in politics
One of the most pressing issues in Nigeria’s gender equality struggle is the low representation of women in politics. Data from media research shows that women make up just 4% of Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly.
This is a decline from 5% in the 8th Assembly and a continuation of the 4% seen in the 9th Assembly. The situation is even worse in the Senate, where women hold just 3% of the seats. These figures highlight the urgent need for gender-inclusive political reforms and initiatives to encourage female participation in governance.
While Nigeria has made some progress in certain areas, particularly in female entrepreneurship, challenges remain in labour force participation and political representation. Closing the gender gap will require policy reforms, stronger institutional support, and a cultural shift towards inclusivity.
As stakeholders continue to push for change, the hope remains that future data will reflect a more equitable society for Nigerian women.
By: James Odunayo