SUSTAINABLE GOVERNANCE AND WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP: RETHINKING DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS IN NIGERIA
Keywords:
female leadership, gender-responsive budgeting, inclusive engagement, sustainable development, NigeriaAbstract
The research examines the essential function of women's political leadership in Nigeria's quest for sustainable development. Grounded in Critical Mass Theory, Feminist Institutionalism, and Sustainable Governance Theory, the study contends that women's leadership transcends mere justice; it is a strategic imperative for realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Inclusive Institutions). Notwithstanding decades of lobbying, Nigeria persists in facing pronounced gender gaps in government. Women occupy fewer than 10% of positions in the National Assembly, much below the 35% affirmative action standard established by the National Gender Policy. At both state and local levels, representation is constrained, with only marginal gains in female candidatures in recent electoral cycles. The research highlights that the under-representation of women is not just quantitative but fundamentally entrenched in patriarchal attitudes, party frameworks, financial obstacles, and inadequate implementation of gender legislation. Comparative data from Rwanda illustrates the transformational capacity of institutional enforcement. Rwanda's use of Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) has transformed government results, yielding inclusive policies in health, education, and community empowerment. Nigeria, in contrast, has faced challenges in institutionalising Gender Responsive Budgeting, resulting in women's leadership being predominantly symbolic rather than substantive. The study comes to the conclusion that more stringent enforcement of gender quotas, institutional changes, safeguarding women from political violence, and capacity-building programs are necessary for Nigeria to achieve sustainable government. Integrating fairness, participation, and accountability into governance frameworks will enable women's leadership to transition from mere symbolic representation to meaningful impact, therefore expediting Nigeria's advancement towards inclusive and sustainable development.References
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