As of 2022, Sub-Saharan Africa had closed 67.9 percent of its gender gap. This means females were, on average, some 32 percent less likely to have the same opportunities as males in the region. From a country perspective, performances varied greatly.
Nigeria has been ranked 123rd out of 146 countries on the 2022 global gender gap index, and moved up 16 places from its 139th ranking out of 156 countries in 2021.
Nigeria is ranked 123rd from an overall perspective but, on economic participation, the country sits at the 50th place. In terms of political participation, Nigeria is ranked 141st in the world; on health and survival, 70th; and in educational attainment, the country is on the 134th spot.
Nigeria is also ranked 27th in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2022, global gender gap index score for Nigeria was 0.64.
The Global Gender Gap Index measures gender-based gaps based on four dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. The highest possible score is one, which signifies total equality between women and men.
Gender inequality in Nigeria is relatively high compared to peer countries and this leaves us short on a key ingredient to economic success. In educational enrolment rates, girls are less likely to go to school than boys are. Women are less likely to access health services or gain access to financial services. Legal gaps persist in practice and access—although at the national level, laws that grant women and men equal rights do exist.
In the labour market, a 4:3 male to female participation ratio exists (i.e. for every four men, three women participate). Women usually participate more in the informal economy. They are more likely to work in agriculture or in a lower productivity environment. Political and leadership representation of women is lower than for men—less than 6 percent of seats in parliament are held by women and less than every sixth firm has participation and ownership or senior management positions held by women.
These opportunity gaps translate into differences in outcomes and ultimately contribute towards deepening the socio-economic divides that already exist. Closing gender gaps and promoting gender equality is beyond a moral choice or demand. It is smart economics, it is smart leadership.
