From Disparity to Development: Evaluating the Economic Implications of Gender and Regional Inequalities in Nigeria

Acceptance and respect are some of the critical words individuals sort out when people find themselves in an environment different from their home. To create an environment that is positive and where distinct similarities and dissimilarities are valued, diversity management is essential. The gender disparity has gone beyond just bias and discrimination. Despite the potential of gender equality being a growth driver, unchecked discrimination and lopsided regional development remain significant shackles to national economic prosperity. Taking a quantitative stance, the study employs secondary time-series data spanning 1990-2023, sourced from the World Bank and Nigerian statistical authorities. The regression results indicate that the model overall is statistically significant (p-value = 0.001) and explains approximately 38.1% of the variation in economic growth. However, if one examines individual variables, it turns out that only the size of the labour force has a moderately significant effect on growth. The findings imply that while together these inequalities have an effect, conventional macroeconomic variables alone can be weak proxies. The study concludes that deliberate policy interventions to reduce gender inequality in education and labour market participation, and efforts to ensure more balanced regional development, are not only social imperatives but are essential economic strategies for harnessing Nigeria's full development potential.