THE EFFECT OF WOMEN EDUCATION ON DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nigeria is a West African developing nation with a population of 182 million (United Nations, 20122). According to a World Bank estimate for 2015, Nigeria's gross domestic product was $481,1 billion (World Bank, 2016), of which $80 billion was derived from oil revenues alone (Oyefeso, 2022). However, 110 million Nigerians lived in poverty (Vanguard, 2022). The Market Mogul attributes Nigeria's wealth inequality and poverty on political corruption and huge government spending. In 2012, the Sahara Reporters determined that the wages of Nigerian politicians cost the country $8.3 billion. In 2012, the federal government of Nigeria allocated $7.4 billion for infrastructure development, however only $3.4 billion was spent on infrastructure development (Sahara Reporters cited in Oyefeso, 2022). In addition, in 2012, 50% of the Nigerian population and 70% of the 100 million living in poverty were female (Fapohunda, 2022).
In 2007, nearly fifty percent of Nigeria's illiterate population was female, compared to 38 percent of men (Fapohunda, 2022). In the lack of current data, it is impossible to assess the amount of poverty women face and the education level of women in the years to come. In Nigeria's many industries, women's representation falls behind that of men, and they are underrepresented in the major economic sectors. In 2008, women comprised 36.5% of the agricultural and forestry work forces, compared to 63.5% for men (Oduwole & Fadeyi, 2022). Women's under representation in Nigerian politics ranks 178 out of 195 countries.
A list of 193 nations with female parliamentarians. This position is due to the fact that women have twenty seats in the Lower House out of a total of 360 members selected from diverse constituencies in the 36 states of the federal republic. Seven out of a total of one hundred and eight seats in the Senate are occupied by women (Inter- Parliamentary Union, 2022).
It is obvious from the preceding that women's representations in Nigerian society lag behind those of males. This operates as a glass ceiling for women's participation in the public sector since the larger Nigerian society equates women's affairs with their home skills (Imhanlahimi & Eloebhose, 2022; Oduaran & Okukpon, 2022; Tuwor & Sossou, 2022). With the introduction of education as emancipation from many types of discrimination, development academics such as Sen and Nussbaum have acknowledged education as women's major source of empowerment (Dreze & Sen, 2022; Nussbaum, 2022). In 2000, the Nigerian government pushed the education of girls in line with Goal 3 of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals, which intended to promote gender equality and empower women via formal education and access to non-agricultural work (Nigeria Millennium Development Goals, 2022). Nigeria had achievement in the enrolment of girls in primary schools, where the ratio of females to boys in basic education increased to 94 percent by 2013's end point. This growth was not observed at the secondary and post secondary levels of formal education. In addition, the final percentage of women in paid work was 7.7 percent. In 2015, 5.11 percent of seats in the national parliament were held by women, in contrast to Nigeria's planned MDGs objective of 35 percent. The administration reported that the objective of empowering women was not realized (Okon, 2022). Given the glass barrier produced by patriarchy, it is vital to ask if education alone is sufficient to contribute to the empowerment of women in Nigeria at this time.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
For many years, the modernisation of traditional people has been one of the greatest challenges facing our national government and political leaders. It is impossible for a growing country like Nigeria to make significant progress toward achieving development when the majority of its people continue to live in the past. Many communities in Nigeria continue to place more value on male education than female education (Okon, 2022). According to them, teaching a woman is a waste of time and money because their education ends in the kitchen. Indeed, this has been a significant problem for the nation as a whole and the town in particular, since it has severely impeded progress.
No nation or country can flourish without the support and contributions of women. Women are the cornerstones of the home, family, village, community, and society as a whole. Women, who make up more than half of Nigeria's population, are unable to realize their full potential as distinct, significant, and deserving persons via education. According to Nussbaum, (2022), a contemporary nation and community need persons who can participate actively in public affairs, who can successfully exercise their rights and carry out their responsibilities. When more than half of the people (Women) are enslaved by illiteracy, it is both absurd and perplexing for political leaders to speak of national freedom.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main aim of this study is to examine the effect of women education on development. Specifically, this study seeks to:
i. Determine the extent of women’s education in Nigeria.
ii. Determine whether women’s education brings about economic development in Nigeria.
iii. Examine the challenges women’s education face in Nigeria.
iv. Proffer solutions to the challenges of women’s education face in Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions will be answered in this study:
i. What is the extent of women’s education in Nigeria?
ii. Does women’s education bring about economic development in Nigeria?
iii. What are the challenges women’s education face in Nigeria?
iv. What are the solutions to the challenges of women’s education face in Nigeria?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This research work will bring to the notice of the public the importance of women’s education in Nigeria. The findings of the study will also reveal the effect of women’s education on the economic development in Nigeria.
The study will also aid the government in making favourable policies that will improve women’s education in Nigeria.
Finally, this study will serve as an additional material for further research and future reference.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study is focused on the effect of women education on development. Precisely, this study is focused on determining the extent of women’s education in Nigeria, determining whether women’s education brings about economic development in Nigeria, examining the challenges women’s education face in Nigeria and proffering solutions to the challenges of women’s education face in Nigeria.
Selected staff of Bayelsa State Ministry of Women Affairs will serve as respondents for this study.
1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This study is limited to the effect of women education on development. Precisely, this study is limited to determining the extent of women’s education in Nigeria, determining whether women’s education brings about economic development in Nigeria, examining the challenges women’s education face in Nigeria and proffering solutions to the challenges of women’s education face in Nigeria.
Selected staff of Bayelsa State Ministry of Women Affairs will serve as respondents for this study, hence further research is required before the findings of this study can be used else where.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Effect: A change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause.
Women’s education: Women education refers to every form of education that aims at improving the knowledge, and skill of women and girls.
Development: The process of developing or being developed.
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