In Nigeria, women remain at a disadvantage compared to men, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows.
More women than men lack formal education, and fewer have control over how household monies are spent.
Only about half of citizens say women should have same right as men to own and inherit land. And while a majority believe that a woman who runs for political office will gain standing in the community, many also consider it likely that she will be criticized or harassed.
Most Nigerians give the government a failing grade on its efforts to promote gender equality.
Key findings
- Survey findings show significant gender imbalances in Nigerian society: Women are less likely than men to have post-secondary education (17% vs. 29%) and more likely than men to have no formal schooling (20% vs. 12%) (Figure 1).
- Women are less than half as likely as men to say they have control over how household money is spent (22% vs. 56%) (Figure 2).
- Only a slim majority (51%) of Nigerians think women should have the same right as men to own and inherit land. Men are much less likely than women to believe in equality when it comes to land (39% vs. 64%) (Figure 3).
- While about eight in 10 citizens (79%) think a woman will gain standing in the community if she runs for office, almost half (47%) say it's likely she will be criticised or harassed, and 38% say she will probably face problems with her family (Figure 4).
- Only one-fourth (26%) of citizens say the Nigerian government is performing "fairly well" or "very well" in promoting equal rights and opportunities for women (Figure 5).
