GENDER DIMENSION TO POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF OGUN STATE

ABSTRACT

This study is on gender dimension to political participation in Nigeria, a case study of Ogun state. The study is aim at identifying the political participation of women in Ogun state, factors hindering the development of women participation in politics, problem of women participation in politics in Ogun state and the possible strategies that can be used to enhance women’s participation in electoral politics in Ogun state.

Over the years, men comprise larger percentage of party membership and this tends to have an effect on women once it comes to selecting candidates for election. The men see women as too weak to engage in politics and governance not considering the fact that all human are equal and they have equal right which is clearly written in the constitution.

The method used in gathering data was wholly quantitative in approach. The study addressed the research questions and also the objective of the study. Survey research design was used to extract information from the respondents. Primary data and secondary data were used for the research work. The primary data was obtained through structure questionnaires which will be administered to the voters in Ogun state. Secondary data was used, this include published materials, journals and newspapers. Also information from the internet will be equally adopted.

The result of this research work revealed that in Nigeria most especially in Ogun state there are factors that militate against women participation in politics. Some of the factors found out was that women are being discriminated against. It was discovered that lots of women would love to participate in politics but are not given the chance, also majority of them are not economically buoyant. The study also revealed that majority of women especially in Ogun state are not very educated; most of them are really traders because most of the families pay less attention to female child education in the past, all these results to low level of women participation in Nigeria most especially in Ogun state. As such, it concluded that these factors have made the women in Nigeria become the main object of violence in different ways by their male counterpart which resulted to low participation in politics in Ogun state. The recommendation are: fair share of female gender in government, organization of program that helps to support women financially so as to participate actively in politics, organization of enlighten programs or seminars for various classes of women on the need to participate actively in the political development and also giving them the privilege to participate in politics, if these are adhere to it would in a great extent improve and extensively boost national development.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                                                                   

Certification                                                                                                                       i

Dedication                                                                                                                          ii  

Acknowledgement                                                                                                             iii

Table of Content                                                                                                                iv  

Abstract                                                                                                                              vii                         

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

 Background to the Study                                    1

Statement of Problem2

Research Objectives                                                                                                          4

Research Questions                                                                                                           4

Research Methodology5

Significance of Study5

Scope of the Study5

Limitation of Study                                                                                                           6

Definition of Terms6

References7

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 

2.0 Introduction8

2.1 Liberal feminist and Empirical Framework8

2.2 History of women and participation in Nigerian politics10

2.2.1 Factors leading to the growth of women participation in Nigeria13

2.3 Concept of politics17

2.4 Concept of political participation18

2.5 Concept of Gender dimension19

2.6 Gender Issues20

2.7 Political and economic issues

21

2.8.1 Women and Education23

2.8.2 Women and the Economy

25

2.8.3 Women and politics (women empowerment in politics)26

2.9 Problematizing Women’s Political Participation in Ogun state27

2.10 Women’s Participation in Politics of Ogun state30

        References34

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction40

3.2 Research design40

3.3 Sources of data40

3.4 Area of study41

3.5 Population of study41

3.6 Sample size and sample techniques

42

3.7 Research instrument and administration of instrument.   

43

3.8 Method of Data analysis. 

43

     References44

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

4.1 Introduction                                                                                                                       45

4.1.1 Data presentation                                                                                                            46

4.2 Data based on section b of the questionnaire                                                                                  51

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Summary                                                                                                                           62     

5.2 Conclusions                                                                                                                       65

5.2 Recommendations                                                                                                             65

     Bibliography                                                                                                                       67

     Appendix                                                                                                                            74