Impact of Women in Government for Nigerian Democracy

Impact of Women in Government for Nigerian stateTIJANI, FATIMAH. ATITLE Impact of Women matter In Governance and policy-making leading, Towards the sustainable commonwealth in Nigeria 1999 2012.AN OVERVIEW OF THE STUDYThe point of this qualitative phenomenological lease is to explore the impact of the Nigerian woman in the involvement in governance and Political Leadership towards the sustainable democracy in the stand firm three dispensations 1999-2012. It is no doubt that in such a hoary society as our women expenses such a large percentages of discrimi body politic and marginalization in their chase for active troth. However, despite the recorded achievements of womens rights advocates such as Funmilayo Ran about-Kuti, Marg art Ekpo, and Gambo Sawaba, there continues to be an underrepresentation of Nigerian women in lead and political sides (Asase, 2003 Qualls, 2003).Various challenges such as gender intents and stereotypes as well as grammatical construction of t he political environment in Nigeria militate against the full participation of women in political and public life. Additionally, spartan hindrances of gender inequality such as the underrepresentation and discrimination as a result of cultural, social, and political norms clothe men at their expense (Okome, 2006 Okunna, 1996). As a result women are struggling to gain access, sport a presence or be influential in the political process of the commonwealth. They are lots in a poorer position than their male counterparts in the various spheres of politics. Though a growing material body of women are members of the various political parties in Nigeria, very few occupy executive positions in these parties, only if very few are given the opportunity to contest for elective positions and even fewer are appointed as members of the ruling cabinet.To this end, the findings from this query may go out the following information to to provide strategies to facilitate decision-makers ree valuate or fetch programs designed to improve the quality of life for Nigerian women towards active participation, to provide enabling channel for the empowering of Nigerian women towards gender equality as well as those in standardised societies as they continue striving to obtain gender equity. To provide insights regarding the grandness of including women in governance and Political leadership roles.Finally the take in bequeath also explore the various influences and presence of women in the locomote three dispensation in Nigeria and the roles they have played towards sustainable democracy in the country despite the footling opportunity they are given.STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMThe inferiority complex of the Nigerian women as to their active political involvement and representation constitute the crux of this Research. The gender stereotyping in Nigerias political system today has its genesis from the onset of colonialism in Nigeria. Making the western cultural notion of colo nialism tied towards a patriarchal society which in turn is reflected in its male superiority within the Nigerians society today. The most authoritative element of this research is that women are, and have been marginalized as well as sidelined in the political spheres of things in Nigeria and this received situation might cause some dangerous national catastrophe if not adequately managed. Indeed, womens political involvement during the colonial propagation coin bank date have contributed greatly towards shaping the Nigerian politics not only in parliamentary governance but also during the pre-colonial era. Therefore, it pull up stakes be unreasonable, and cruel to wish away the critical efforts of women in the making of Nigerian state while arrogating political powers to the male folk. It is also unjust to ascribe political seats only for the male folks in this state of globalization where the world is evolving and where the role, influence and charismatic preposition of the women in global politics is considered to be relevance and importance towards attainment of overall world peace, mutual co-existence and tranquility. In line with this I will be taking a look at the various stages of Nigerian political tale and how women has been in some shipway impacted to the sustainable democracy in Nigeria even when they are unimaginably sidelined, additionally ways to encourage their full participation into political posts in the country without prejudice.AIMS/PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDYThe followings are the reasons why I decided to embark on this researchTo examine the impacts of women in governance and political leadership towards the sustenance of democracy in NigeriaTo elicit their challenges, experiences and contributions to the democratic process in NigeriaTo look at the difference between the involvement of women in governance, Leadership and politics in Nigeria, and to raise concern on the need of gender equity in the transformed democratic p ractise in Nigeria enlighten about their pitying rights for involvement and participation.This research work will form part of the requirement for the degree of the Masters in International Relations.SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDYTo bring to limelight ways/how Nigerian women are shattering the ceilings that specify and marginalize them in the Nigerian political scene.To provide information to help decision-makers reevaluate or develop programs designed to improve the quality of life for Nigerian women towards active participation.The findings from the study may provide insights regarding the importance of including women in governance and Political leadership roles.To serve as an avenue for nevertheless research study on the area of gender politics in the Nigerian Society.RESEARCH QUESTIONSWhat impact has the involvement of Nigerian women in governance and political leadership been able to add to the sustainable of democracy in the country?If more women participated in decision-making and active participation, what kind of difference would they make?What are the positions of political parties, government and another(prenominal) state institutions (including the three branches of government) on the role and participation of women in political and public offices?In what ways can women themselves contribute to reducing the challenges that hinder their effective participation in governance and politics in general?What lessons can be drawn from the research that would help decision-makers in general but curiously political parties to address the problems of womens participation in political and public life?What recommendations can be made to address the problems of women in politics and public offices?SCOPE OF STUDYThis study will be undertaken within the jurisdiction of the Federal Republic of Nigeria State. It will look into the impact of Nigerian women involvement in governance and political leadership towards the sustainable democracy in Nigerian politics withi n the last three dispensation i.e. from 1999-2012.RESEARCH HYPOTHESISAccording to Ogbeide (1996), hypothesis testing is a fundamental in natural action in qualitative data analysis. The statement of a hypothesis take 2 means energy (H0) and research (H1). While null hypothesis indicates that there is no relationship between the variables under study, the research hypothesis indicated that there is a relationship between the variables. In this study two hypotheses will be tested as shown belowHypothesis 1H1 Women Involvement in Governance and Political Leadership, has been impactful towards the Sustainable Democracy in NigeriaH0 Women Involvement in Governance and Political Leadership, have not been impactful towards the Sustainable Democracy in NigeriaHypothesis 2H1 Women participation in decision-making will help faster development of the nationH0 Women participation in decision-making will not help the faster development of the nation.METHODOLOGYIn obtaining the call for infor mation for this research, the use of qualitative and quantitative means of data collections will be used, which means information for the study will be carried out from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data will be administered through expressiond questionnaires on about 700 randomly selected female politicians, activists and professionals in government and plethoric political parties cross-cutting through the six geo-political zones of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This will be done in value to aim and document a cross-cutting opinion of the targeted groups in the respective geo-political zones on the situation regarding womens role in politics and the democratic process in Nigeria.Additionally, scheduled interview schedules will be conducted with 10 purposively selected respondents who occupied key political leadership positions whose experiences has facilitated the documentation of womens involvement in politics and the democratic process in Nigeria from 1999-2 011.The use of academic research books, journals, and writes up from feminist scholars will be highlighted. As such, this research will take its bearing from the feminist ideologies concerning the status of women.THEORETCAL FRAMEWORKThis research study will take its theoretical prospect from feminist ideologies which is concerned with the status of women in every spheres in general. Feminists are of the view that in comparison to men, women occupy disadvantaged positions in most elusive dimensions of our life. The work of two feminists idelogist will be of importance here Walby (1990 1997) and Chafetz (1990) will be briefly examined here with particular focus on the relationships they perceive exist between domestic and public economic life with regard to the cosmea and maintenance of gender inequalities.A BRIEF OUTLINE (THESIS STRUCTURE)This study will comprise of six chapters. The opening chapter which will provide us with an overview of what the research is going to be, the obj ectives, literature review, research method and also samples arguments on why gender equality in politics is essential. Chapter two examines of the historical dimension and position of women in Nigerian political history dating back to its precolonial, colonial as well as postcolonial times till date. It seeks to creates insight on the various contributions of women in governance though Nigerian political history which will help the focus of this research. The third chapter will analysis the data collected based on the field research, and opinion of selected respondents via interviews and questionnaires. Chapter four on the other hand will be focusing on the impact of women involvement in Nigerian politics vis-a-viz their quest for political participation. This chapter equally introduces the three major political parties in Nigeria and using them as case study in order to fully capture the scope of political transition period, this research analyzes the contributions of political p arties towards the poor participation and representation of women since independence till date. It highlights their role in representative democracy such as practiced in Nigeria today as well as various avenues they use to hamper womens advancement in politics.Furthermore the fifth chapter will be taking a broader insight into the impact, ways and contributions adopted by the women in Nigeria in the last dispensations to encourage gender equality in political scene, the various national as well as international policies amongst other things and how these measures have been implemented. This chapter will also analyze the impact these measures have had on women advancement in the countrys politics as well as the hindrances they have been type with. Finally, the concluding chapter, will highlight some observations, recommendations on the findings as well as recommendations from various respondents for further research study.ORGANIZATION OF CHAPTERSCHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTIONBackground o f the StudyStatement of the ProblemAims/Purpose/ target area of the StudySignificance of the StudyResearch QuestionsScope of the StudyHypothesisMethodologyTheoretical good exampleDelimitation (Scope) of the StudyLiterature ReviewOperational Defination of Terms university extensionCHAPTER TWO REVIEW OF related to LITERATURE2.1 Introduction- Women in Nigerian Politics An Overview2.2 The 1979 and 1999 Nigerian Constitution and the Status of the Nigerian Woman in politics2.3 Women in Pre-colonial Nigeria2.4 Women in Colonial Nigeria2.5 Women in Nigeria Today2.6 The Problem of Colonial Legacy to Womens Involvement in Nigeria Politics2.6 Ferminist Theory in Perspctive2.7 Arguments for gender-balanced RepresentationReferenceCHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY (DATA PRESENTAION, outline AND INTERPRETATION)3.1 Introduction3.2 Research Design3.3 Population3.4 Sample and Sampling technique3.5 Instrument for Data order of battle3.5.1 Personal Interview3.5.2 Questionnaire3.6 Data Analysis3.7 Response to Questionnaire3.8 Tabular Design of Questionnaire3.9 Statistical Test of Hypotheses3.10 definition of Hypothesis3.11 SummaryReferenceCHAPTER FOUR CONTRIBUTORY FACTORS TO THE LEVEL OF WOMENS POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN NIGERIA TODAY AND THE ROLE OF PARTY POLITICS4.1 An Overview of the concept Participation in politics4.2 The rise and structure of political parties in Nigeria4.3 A brief background of the three major political parties in Nigeria4.4 The position of women in the Nigerian political parties4.5 Ways political parties inhibit women in Nigerian politicsReferenceCHAPTER FIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN TO NIGERIAN POLITICS5.1 Impacts of Nigerian Women Involvement in Nigerian Politics towards Sustainable Democracy5.2 Barriers and Hinderances to Women Involvement women in Nigerian politics5.3 Actors role in increasing womens political participation5.4 Other contributions towards women empowerment and gender equality in NigeriaReferenceCHAPTER SIX SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND passport6.1 Summary6.2 Conclusion6.3 Recommendations6.4 Recommendations for Further Studies