The Nigerian society is unequal and when viewed through the gender
prism, it is even more so. Statistics regarding the wellbeing of our
children – male and female – leave one with a sense of unease and
fearful apprehension. There are trends which, if not arrested and
reversed, spell doom for a future that already does not inspire much
cheer.
With 64% of Nigerians living below the poverty line and 70% of children
affected by multi-dimensional poverty, it is no surprise that issues
like low school enrolment, child marriage and other attendant challenges
persist.
Reports indicate that Nigeria accounts for 20% of the world’s
out-of-school population and 45% of children out-of-school in West
Africa. In the North-East and North-West regions, only 41% and 47% of
eligible girls are enrolled in primary school and of this number, a
significant proportion do not go on to complete secondary education.
The low level of education in girls cannot be divorced from other
disheartening trends. 23 million girls and women married for the first
time as children; not only is prevalent child marriage glaring proof of
inequality, it is also directly linked to low literacy levels. Child
brides are also less likely to seek or receive medical attention during
pregnancy and this, no doubt, bears some impact on the maternal
mortality rate. For every 100,000 live births in Nigeria, 576 women die.
This number is only better than figures recorded in three other
countries, namely: Sierra Leone, Central Africa Republic and Chad.
On the political front, in recent years, we have witnessed a steady
decline in the representation of women in governance. This is even as we
have not been able to attain 10% representation for women across board
since the return to democracy in 1999. Currently, women’s
representation stands at 6.42% in the Senate and 3.05% in the House of
Representatives, with four female deputy governors across the country
and 40 women legislators in state parliaments. The low level of
women’s participation and representation in governance can be traced
to issues such as lack of financial capacity, low literacy levels and
discriminatory attitudes, among others. Many of these factors are
determined by conditions in which girls are raised and are, therefore,
already in effect during childhood.
Yet another manifestation or consequence of the inequality in which the
Nigerian girl child is brought up is apparent in health indices and
other social indicators.
Only 29.3% of young women (aged between 15-24) correctly identify ways
to prevent HIV transmission. Only half of the female population aged
between 15-49 are aware of how HIV transmission from mother to child can
be prevented. 33.7% of women aged between 15-49 justify domestic
violence and only 41% of pregnant women aged 15-49 receive ante-natal
care.
Sexual exploitation and molestation of girls and (young) women calls for
serious concern; 15.1% of young women aged 15-24 had their first sexual
encounter before they turned 15, 41.2% of whom engage(d) in sexual
relationships with men who are 10 years older (or more).
Considering the relatively low level of awareness about HIV and other
STDS, it is extremely alarming that condom use with non-regular partners
stands at 46.6%. What this likely points to is lack of agency and that
sexual relations/interactions are steeped in inequality.
The internet presents many of Nigeria’s youth with opportunities
beyond their geographical location and helps a great deal in acquiring
skills which are often not taught within the classroom, or which they or
their parents cannot afford to pay for. However, even when it comes to
internet use, young women are at a disadvantage with only 13.4% (as
opposed to 20.6% of young men) having access to a computer and 17.3% (as
opposed to 32% of men in the same age bracket) using the internet.
What the quoted figures – and others – show is that a lot of work
needs to be done to improve the welfare and living conditions of
children and young people across board, but with more emphasis when it
comes to reaching girls and young women.
Social dictates which limit the aspirations of women are equally present
at childhood, directing what girls can or cannot be interested in before
they are capable of developing an informed world view. These figures
tell us that there can be no marked improvement in the maternal
mortality rate or the prevalence of child marriage if our girls are not
enrolled in school, and if they do not remain in school.
These statistics show that if indeed we are serious about enhancing the
representation of women in governance, then as we build the capacity of
those who are grown and interested in politics, we must also place the
feet of our daughters on the path to political prominence by giving them
education and providing opportunities for subsequent economic
empowerment while also countering discriminatory rhetoric.
There are many challenges facing girls and women in different parts of
the country and we must design and implement effective policies as we
simultaneously execute behavioural change campaigns tailored to each
challenge and the region in which it occurs. It would be an egregious
error to assume that one-minute adverts on national TV or radio in the
three major languages, pidgin and English, would undo the work that
centuries of conditioning has done.
We need strong laws and an efficient justice system. There are frequent
reports of girls and women being raped; often, perpetrators are let off
with a slap on the wrist. As shown by the recent sex for grades
documentary by BBC Africa, sexual harassment and exploitation are the
order of the day in our academic institutions. This happens in other
sectors as well and it persists because culprits are seldom held
accountable.
At the federal level, the Ministry of Women Affairs must be more
proactive and all institutions charged with the responsibility of
creating a more equal world for girls and women need to be granted
funding that is commensurate with the enormous challenges which need to
be tackled.
Furthermore, every policy at federal and state levels should have a
gender component and the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill needs to be
revisited by the Ninth National Assembly. States which have domesticated
the Child Rights Act or have passed their version of a child protection
law should work towards better implementation/enforcement, while
advocacy efforts should be targeted at those states which are yet to do
this.
SOURCES
1. Situation of women and children in Nigeria
https://www.unicef.org/nigeria
2. Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2016-2017
https://www.unicef.org/nigeria
3. 2019 elections worst for Nigerian women in nearly two decades,
analyses show
https://www.premiumtimesng.com
Rinsola Abiola is an advocate for gender equity and youth inclusion in
politics.