By Saheed Ibrahim,
Omolade Oyewole,
Ayomide Aladegbeye &
Oluwaymisi Olumoroti

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Gender equality, also known as sexual equality or equality of the sexes, is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities, Including economic participation, decision-making and the state of valuing different behaviors, aspirations and needs equally, regardless of gender. One big question that is commonly asked is ‘Can there actually be gender equality in African societies?’
From the days of our forefathers, there has always been gender bias, which promotes patriarchy and somewhat subjugates the rights of women under men’s. In Africa, a man is usually considered as the ‘Head’, irrespective of his age, while women are meant to respect men as ‘Leaders’. Although women have certain rights and privileges they enjoy, political, social, cultural and economic powers are usually in favour of the male gender.
Despite gender equality not only being a fundamental human right but also a necessity for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world, it is glaring mat in almost all spheres of life men are receiving some certain rights, respects and benefits more than women. How can Nigeria achieve gender equality in order to ensure sustainable development?
Responding, the Ondo State Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Sunday Oyewole stressed that there had been women exclusion politically and economically in Nigeria.
He noted that “Gender based violence and discrimination are common and should stop because the women also have their rights and obligations. A situation where the husband is beating the wife and flogging her should stop, because this is not good enough”
In his recommendation, Mr. Sunday suggested that women should be allowed to occupy 35 percent of political posts in Nigeria, and this should be backed up by law. He added that child marriage, harassment and gender based violence should be treated with seriousness.
While saying that women should be adequately empowered, to ensure economic prosperity across sectors in the country, the NHRC Coordinator stated, “Give proper value to women. Encourage them in whatever they do. If a woman and a man produce a shoe and you buy yours from the woman, give her the money according to her services. There shouldn’t be any inequality in that aspect. Appreciate the little things they do, because they deserve encouragement, and applaud them also.”
The State Secretary, StandUp for Women Society (SWS), Mrs. Fatima Muraina, submitted that gender equality in Nigeria was far below average as women were not being given adequate representation and necessary recognition.
Her words “They are intimidated, victimised, discriminated against and oppressed. The recent rejection of the gender bill by NASS shows that women’s effort in the development of Nigeria is not appreciated and recognised, and it is a big slap on women,”
“Gender equality is lacking in vertically all aspects one can think of, despite the fact that we remain die higher population in Nigeria, It is even worse when it comes to politics/’ she decried,
Alhaja Muraina called for more advocacy for and empowerment of women in order to improve their wellbeing, and ensure women’s contributions to national development were well channeled.
Also, die Programme Manager, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network Ondo state, Folashade Ojo, recommended that traditional and cultural beliefs that undermine women’s wellbeing and potentials, such as early marriage, female genital mutilation and other harmful practices, should be outlawed across regions.
While also emphasizing need to put more women in political offices, she stressed further that women should be given equal education, employment, empowerment and recognition as men.
Lending her voice, a women advocate, Similoluwa Adebo, lamented that the society was ill-informed about women’s lights and potentials, due to age-long practices such as dowry system, child labor, child marriage, rituals and so on.
According to her, “For many years, the dominant gender has always been men, while women are the minority. Women are to look after the house and children. However, as time passes by, things have started changing slowly. Nonetheless, they are far from perfect.”
“A nation needs to value every gender equally, to progress at the right pace. A society attains better development in all aspects when both genders are entitled to similar opportunities, like equal rights in decision making, health, politics, infrastructure, profession and so on, and this will surely advance our society to a better level.”
Adebo added that gender inequality can be eradicated through education of the younger ones to counter gender stereotypes from childhood, promotion of equality at work and use of gender neutral language.
Speaking from the angle of the law, a legal practitioner, Mr. Oni John Olusegun noted that the call for gender equality led to an aspect in the legal profession that is called the feminism jurisprudence, which teaches equality of both gender.
While citing sections 34 and 42 of the amended Nigerian 1999 Constitution, he explained that gender inequality is frowned at under the law and “As a student of Feminism Jurisprudence, I strongly believe that nobody should be discriminated against on the basis of sex. It is a flagrant violation of right. We must all be given equal right and freedom”.
While recommending that stringent laws be put into place to ensure that violators of. human are severely punished, Olusegun stated that more awareness and enlightenment programmes were needed to advance the need to empower and recognize women in the society.
A teacher, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Adegbenro, pegged man-woman recognition ratio to 70:30 in Nigeria, decrying mat many government policies sidelined the women.
The wife of the Commissioner for Health in Ondo State, Wahab Adegbenro, stated that gender equality could be enhanced through proper legislation, by enhancing laws that would allow men and women to have at least, 60/40 recognition ratio, if not equal.