A new public opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls has revealed that 61 percent of Nigerians nationwide think that there is discrimination against women in the country.
Additionally, analysis of respondents by geographical location shows that the South-South zone at 73 percent had the highest percentage of Nigerians that stated there is gender discrimination against women in Nigeria, while North-Central at 53 percent accounted for the lowest percentage.
Furthermore, the survey showed that in terms of gender discrimination in Politics, Family, Workplace and Education there is a huge gender disparity in all areas. With the exception of education where 60 percent of Nigerians believe that women in Nigeria enjoy better inclusion.
More findings from the poll clearly revealed that about 7 in 10 (73 percent) Nigerians nationwide believe that women in Nigeria face discrimination in getting into elected positions in governance or politics. Additionally, the analysis also showed that women face discrimination in getting into professional leadership positions.
More so, the top three suggestions by Nigerians on how gender inequality can be reduced were found to be: “enforce policies that will support gender equality” (36 percent), “women should have their own political party” (14 percent), and “stop the discrimination” (9 percent). Also, the poll showed that Nigerians perceived poor effort on the part of the Federal Government in addressing issues related to women in Nigeria; especially in the area of ‘Female Genital Mutilation, ‘Domestic Violence, ‘Sexual Harassment and ‘Early Child Marriage’.
Finally, the poll disclosed that religion plays a huge in gender discrimination in Nigeria as 61 percent of Nigerians nationwide asserted. Moreover, analysis across the two major geo-divider shows that more respondents who reside in the Northern region think that religion plays a huge role in gender discrimination than the Southern counterpart; averaging 65 percent and 56 percent respectively across the region. The poll having gauged the perception of Nigerians on gender equality in Nigeria, specific sector-focused inclusion of women, the discrimination of women in getting into elected and professional leadership positions, suggestions on improving gender parity, government efforts in addressing gender-related issues as well as the role of religion in gender discrimination. Having brought this to the fore, it is imperative that all the ministry of women affairs and social development, policymakers, civil society organizations and all relevant stakeholders synergize to addresses the issue raised by this poll. Thereby ultimately improving gender parity in the country. These are the key highlights from the gender equality poll conducted in the week commencing 1st March 2021.
Survey Finding
Overall, the survey revealed that only 39 percent of Nigerians nationwide actually think that there is equality in Nigeria. This implies that only about 4 in 10 (39 percent) Nigerians nationwide think that there is gender parity in the country. Additionally, the analysis of respondents in this category by gender, geopolitical zones and aged- groups clearly shows that there is a high level of gender disparity in Nigeria.
On the contrary, 61 percent of Nigerians nationwide do not think that there is gender parity in the Nigeria. Hence, the outlook here is that 6 1n 10 (61 percent) Nigeria nationwide stated that they do not believe that there is gender parity in a Nigeria. A quick analysis of respondent who do not think that there is gender parity in the country across geopolitical zones revealed that the south- south zone at 72 percent accounted for the highest proportion of Nigerians nationwide who do not think that parity in the nation, while North-central zone at 53 percent accounted for the region with the lowest proportion of Nigerians in this category.
LEVELS OF AGREEMENT ON GENDER EQUALITY
POLITICS
Concerning the level of gender inclusiveness across work place and fields of human endeavour; the analysis of results shows that in terms of political inclusion, only 32 percent (6 + 26) of Nigerians nationwide agreed that there is gender equality across the political space in Nigeria. On the contrary, analysis revealed that 63 percent (43 + 20) percent of Nigerians nationwide disagreed that women are actually given equal opportunity as men in the area of politics in Nigeria. Clearly, 63 percent of Nigerians think that there is serious gender disparity when it comes to the involvement of women in politics in Nigeria. However, 5 percent of Nigerians nation were indifferent about the state of gender equality in politics.
FAMILY
More so, with regards to giving women equal opportunities as men in families across Nigeria, the analysis of survey results bares that 34 (29 + 5) percent of Nigerians nationwide agreed that women are currently being given equal opportunities as men across Nigerian families nationwide. On the contrary, 55 (41 + 14) percent of Nigerians nationwide disagreed. To them, women are not currently given the same opportunities as men in their respective families. Almost (6 in 10) Nigerians nationwide held the believe that women are currently not been giving equal opportunities as males in their families. Interestingly, about 12 percent of Nigerians nationwide were indifferent about the current state of gender equality across Nigerian families.
WORK PLACE
Additionally, in terms workplace inclusion of women In Nigeria, the analysis of survey results bares that 48 ( 8 + 40 ) percent of Nigerians nationwide agreed that women are currently given equal opportunities as males across workplaces in Nigeria. Contrarily, 41 (32 + 9) percent of Nigerian Nationwide disagreed that women are currently been given equal opportunities as males across workplaces in the country.
EDUCATION
Consequently, the analysis of women inclusion in the area of Education revealed that 60 (43 + 17) percent of Nigerians nationwide agreed that women are currently been equal opportunities as males in Nigeria in the area of education. On the contrary, 34 (26 + 8) percent disagreed that women are currently been equal opportunities as males in Nigeria in the area of education. Also, analysis revealed that 7 percent of Nigerians nationwide were indifferent regarding the current state of education inclusion of in Nigeria.
DISCRIMNATION OF WOMEN IN GOVERNANCE AND POLITICAL LEDERSHIP POSITIONS
Subsequently, the survey sought to determine the opinion of Nigerians nationwide on the discrimination of women in governance or political ladership positions in Nigeria. Hence, the analysis of survey results revealed that 73 percent of Nigerians nationwide stated that women face discrimination in getting into governance or political leadership positions in Nigeria. Furthermore, the analysis of respondents in this category across gender, geopolitical zones and age – groups shows that at least 7 in 10 Nigerians nationwide agreed that women face discrimination in getting into elected postions in Nigeria.
On the contrary, 27 percent of Nigerians nationwide stated that women in Nigeria do not face face discrimination in getting into elected positions in Nigeria. This implies only about 3 in 10 ( 27 percent) Nigerians think that women find it easy to get into elected positions in the country.
DISCRIMINATION OF WOMEN IN GETTING INTO PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
Furthermore, the survey sought determine the perception of Nigerians regarding the discrimination of women in getting professional leadership position across in country. Hence, the analysis of survey results showed that 68 percent of Nigerians nationwide stated that women face discrimination in getting professional leadership roles in the country. This implies that about 7 in 10 ( 68 percent) Nigerians nationwide believe that women do face discrimantion and difficulties in getting professional leadership positions in Nigeria.
On the contrary, the poll revealed that 32 percent of Nigerians nationwide do not believe that women face any kind of discrimination in getting into professinal leadership positions in Nigeria.
SUGGETIONS ON REDUCING GENDER INEQUALITY IN NIGERIA
The top three suggestions by Nigerians on how gender inequality can be reduced were found to be: “enforce policies that will support gender equality” (36 percent), “women should have their own political party” (14 percent), and “stop the discrimination” (9 percent).
FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS’ EFFORTS IN TACKLING SOME MAJOR GENDER ISSUES
In furtherance, the poll sought to determine the opinion of Nigerians regarding the effort of the government in addressing gender in the country.
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)
Therefore, the analysis of results shows that only 40 (12 +28) percent of Nigerians nationwide stated that the federal government has to not an extent addressed the issues of FGM in Nigeria. On the contrary, 50 percent of Nigerians nationwide Nigerians nationwide believe that the government has addressed issues of FGM in the country to an extent, 10 percent of Nigerians nation are still indifferent concerning government efforts so far in addressing FGM in Nigeria.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
In relation to the federal governments’ efforts in addressing and curbing issues of domestic violence in the country, the analysis of results revealed that 43 (13 + 30) percent of Nigerians nationwide think that the federal government has to no extent addressed the issue of domestic violence in Nigeria. Also, analysis revealed that 46 (33 + 13) percent Nigerians nationwide think that the federal government has to an extent addressed the issue of domestic violence in Nigeria, while 11 percent of Nigerians nationwide were indifferent regarding federal government efforts in addressing the issue of domestic violence in Nigeria
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Concerning the federal governments’ efforts in addressing and curbing issues of sexual harassment in the country, the analysis of results revealed that 44 (14 + 30) percent of Nigerians nationwide opined that the federal government has to no extent addressed the issue of sexual harassment in Nigeria. Also, analysis revealed that 46 (35 + 11) percent Nigerians nationwide think that the federal government has to an extent addressed the issue of sexual harassment in Nigeria. Interestingly, 10 percent of Nigerians nationwide were indifferent regarding federal government efforts in addressing the issue of sexual harassment in Nigeria
EARLY MARRIAGE
Regarding the federal governments’ efforts in addressing and curbing issues of early marriage in the country, the analysis of results revealed that 49 (31+ 18) percent of Nigerians nationwide opined that the federal government has to no extent addressed the issue of early marriage in Nigeria. Also, analysis revealed that 41 (31 + 10) percent Nigerians nationwide think that the federal government has to an extent addressed the issue of early marriage in Nigeria. Interestingly, 10 percent of Nigerians nationwide were indifferent regarding federal government efforts in addressing the issue of early marriage in Nigeria.
PERCEPTION ON THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN NIGERIA
Finally, the survey sought to determine the opinion of Nigeria on the influence of religion gender discrimination in Nigeria. Hence, the analysis of survey results revealed that 61 percent of Nigerians nationwide opined that religion plays a role in gender discrimination in Nigeria. Additionally, analysis across the two major geo-divider shows that more respondents in the northern divide think that religion plays a huge role in gender discrimination than those in the southern divide; averaging 65 percent and 56 percent respectively across geopolitical zones.
CONCLUSION
The poll having gauged the perception of Nigerians on gender equality in Nigeria, specific sector focused inclusion of women, the discrimination of women in getting into elected and professional leadership positions, Suggestions on improving gender parity, government efforts in addressing gender related issues as well as the role of religion in gender discrimination. Results revealed that there is serious gender disparity in the country majorly fueled by religious beliefs. In terms of the sector focus inclusion of women, the analysis of results revealed that women Nigeria only enjoyed good inclusion in the educational sector, while other focus areas for this poll: family, politics and workplace showed a need for more representation and inclusion as there still a huge gender disparity in this area.
Furthermore, the poll also revealed a huge gender disparity in the area of women getting into elected and professional leadership positions and a perceived poor effort on the part of the federal government in addressing issues affecting women in the country. Having brought this to fore it is imperative that all the ministry of women affairs and social development, policy makers, civil society organizations and all relevant stakeholders synergize to addresses the issue raised by this poll. Thereby ultimately improving gender parity in the country.
Survey Method
The poll was conducted in the week commencing 1st March, 2021. It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country, were interviewed. With a sample of this size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise – within a range of plus or minus 4.65%.
NOIPolls Limited, is the No1 for country specific polling services in West Africa. We conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. More information is available at www.noi-polls.com or download our mobile app NOIPolls on your smartphone.
