Today, millions around the world celebrate female empowerment in the 21st century, but Nigeria seems to be missing from that conversation. Spousal violence is a recurring feature. Not to mention the 66% of Nigerian females who have no decision-making power in marriage. The situation not only calls for sober reflection, but policy change.
This is why Dataphyte and its parent organisation, Interactive, released an advocacy document titled Gender in Nigeria 2020. The report serves as a follow up to the National Population Commission’s 2013 Gender in Nigeria Report.
Hence, key findings emanated from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey of 2018. We also used relevant information from the 2018 Statistics Report on Women and Men in Nigeria. Likewise, information from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2016-17 (MICS5) was vital; both published by the National Bureau of Statistics. Overall, analysis, findings and submissions made in this report stem from a comparative analysis of gender and equality-related figures in 2013 and 2018 for Nigeria from these sources.
Contained within are updates on key health and welfare issues such as socio-economic emancipation of women, knowledge and access to key health information such as family planning methods and child feeding practices, among other issues germane to the country’s public health policy. It measures attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS and provides an update on sexual and gender based violence across the country, among other salient gender matters.
We have prepared this report to provide gender perspectives to Nigeria’s development in recent times and as the country marked its 60th Independence Anniversary. More so, this brochure aims to support various equality and gender-based advocacies in Nigeria and beyond with measured data and unbiased information for their work. To this end, the report highlights prominent concerns bordering on Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 8.
Dataphyte and The Interactive hope the information contained would guide policy makers. Using recommendations proffered and data-driven assessments, development practitioners could guide the gender equality conversation, establishing the right policies.
Funding support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) in producing this report was invaluable. Likewise, the technical expertise of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) was vital to publication, and for that they have our gratitude.
You can download the full report here.