Women Academic and Tertiary Education in Nigeria
Central Asian Journal of Social Sciences and History, 4 (12):
46-55 (November 2023)Zusammenfassung
This paper scrutinizes the status of women academics in Nigerian tertiary education, highlighting their pivotal roles, challenges, and the factors leading to their underrepresentation. Despite playing essential roles in teaching, research, and community service, women academics face persistent challenges in achieving equal representation in Nigerian tertiary institutions. The study identifies foundational enrolment issues, inadequate implementation of gender policies, cultural and religious beliefs, early marriage practices, career demands, economic constraints, patriarchal practices, and insufficient funding for female education as contributing factors to this imbalance. The research emphasizes the necessity for comprehensive strategies to address these challenges, fostering gender equality. Recognizing the indispensable contributions of women academics to the development of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the paper recommends providing more opportunities for women academics in terms of responsibilities and leadership roles to rectify the existing underrepresentation.