Women Political Underrepresentation in Nigeria: The Key Issues and the Way Forward

Background: Gender equality remains a pressing global issue, with many governments struggling to provide equal opportunities for women in governance. Despite various efforts, Nigeria continues to struggle with the underrepresentation of women in politics, with women occupying less than 10% of political seats. Objectives: This study examined the factors hindering women from participating fully in politics and assessed how well government policies have succeeded in increasing women’s political involvement. Method: The study used a descriptive research design, targeted two (2) wards in Ikeja, Lagos State, with an estimated population of 400,000. A purposive sampling method was used to select 150 politically active women (75 from each ward), ensuring quality insights while balancing feasibility and data depth. Through structured questionnaire containing 15 questions, 150 responses were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Cultural norms, patriarchal mind-sets, and religious beliefs hinder women's political participation, while financial challenges and party discrimination also limit female representation. Government policies have made little impact due to poor implementation. Conclusion: Addressing these barriers requires challenging cultural norms, providing financial and family support, and improving legal protection for women in politics. Unique Contribution: This study provides insights into how socio-cultural, economic, and institutional barriers together limit women's political participation in Nigeria. Key Recommendation: There is need for public awareness campaigns, financial support for women, stronger legal reforms, and better policy implementation to enhance women’s political participation.