WOMEN’S ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ADVOCACY FOR LOCALISING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 3, 5 AND 6 IN IKOM EDUCATION ZONE, CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined how women’s leadership and community advocacy roles relate to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 5 and 6 in Ikom Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. A correlational survey design was adopted. The population comprised 93,983 women aged 18-55 years, from which 400 respondents were selected through stratified random sampling; the regression output indicated 398 valid cases for analysis. Data were collected with the Leadership and Advocacy Roles of Women and Attainment of Sustainable Development Goals Questionnaire and analysed using simple linear regression. Women’s leadership role showed a weak positive but non-significant relationship with SDG attainment (R = 0.07, R² = 0.01, F(1,396) = 2.06, p = 0.15). Women’s advocacy role showed a weak but statistically significant relationship (R = 0.13, R² = 0.02, F(1,396) = 7.16, p = 0.01). SDG localisation requires women’s mobilisation, institutional support and environmental education. The study clarifies women’s agency as a grassroots pathway for health, gender and WASH outcomes.