Re-Emerging Inclusive Governance in Contending Gender Imbalance Political Representation for African Development: Nigeria’s Fourth Republic in Retrospect
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26905/j-tragos.v3i2.15866Keywords:
African development, forth republic, gender imbalance representation, inclusive governance and political participationAbstract
The Fourth Republic of Nigeria, which began on May 29, 1999, signaled a renewed commitment to democratic governance. Recently, Nigeria's democratic institutions, especially the Senate, have been challenged with issues that concern sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and abuse of office along gender lines. Essentially, gender imbalance in political representation remains a persistent and significant challenge. Despite various national and international frameworks advocating for gender inclusivity, women continue to encounter systemic barriers that limit their participation in electoral and appointive positions. This paper adopts a historical and methodological approach to examine the evolution of gender representation in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. It assesses the policies, institutional reforms, and socio-political dynamics influencing women’s participation in governance. By tracing the trends of political inclusion and exclusion, the paper critically analyzes how Nigeria has adopted inclusive governance and the effectiveness of interventions in bridging gender disparities. The paper argues that, although progress has been made through policy initiatives and advocacy, entrenched structural constraints, such as political violence, economic marginalization, and cultural biases, continue to hinder substantial change. The paper draws lessons from historical and contemporary perspectives, offering insights into strategies for achieving sustainable gender-inclusive governance as a vital driver of African development. In conclusion, sustainable development can only be achieved by African countries if increasing gender parity in democratic institutions becomes a strategy for building a fairer, wealthier, and more resilient society. Among other measures, the paper recommends legislative and constitutional reforms, strengthening political party frameworks, establishing gender equity desks, and enhancing capacity building for women.
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