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Equity Rising: Nigeria’s Opportunity to Bridge the Gender Gap

Published

2 months ago

August 20, 2025

By Nneka Acholonu Egbuna.

Gender inequity is a barrier to social cohesion. It exists in Nigeria, which is considered one of the world’s most unequal societies, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2025). This disparity limits basic human rights and opportunities for women.

While Nigeria has ratified many conventions and agreements in favour of gender equity and the non-discrimination of women, as well as a gender policy calling for at least 35% representation of women in governance at all levels, it still falls behind in implementing its commitments (with the exception of a few states).

The nation was thrown into shock in March 2022, when Nigeria’s National Assembly rejected five bills designed to promote gender equality and increase women’s political participation were proposed for constitutional amendment. This sparked protests across the country. The bills proposed the following:

Citizenship rights for foreign husbands – to allow Nigerian women to confer citizenship on their foreign-born husbands, as Nigerian men can for their foreign wives.
Indigeneship through marriage – women to claim their husband’s state of origin after five years of marriage.
35% affirmative action in appointment – reserving at least 35% of appointed political positions for women at the federal and state levels.
35% representation in political party leadership – women to hold at least 35% of executive positions in political parties.
Special seats for women in parliament – seats to be reserved for women in the National and State Assemblies to address the very low representation of women.

To address the situation, the National Assembly announced that the bills would be reconsidered during the next phase of constitutional amendments for the 4^th quarter of 2025.

Since 2019, the Africa Polling Institute (API) has been conducting the Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey to gauge citizens’ perceptions of unity and polarization in the country. The 2015 survey used 14 indicators —Identity, Trust, Social Justice & Equity, Civic Participation, Tolerance, Gender Equity/Disability and Inclusion, Impunity, Corruption, Natural Resource Governance, Polarization, Security and peacebuilding, Coping Strategies, Migration, and Self-worth & Future Expectations — to calculate Nigeria’s overall social cohesion index. A total of 5,465 respondents participated in the Survey with nationwide data collection covering gender, marital status, religious affiliation, age, ethnicity, and literacy levels.

According to the survey, Nigerians largely view the federal government’s efforts to promote gender equity (fairness and impartiality), protect women from discrimination and violence, ensure equal political opportunities, and punish gender-based violence offenders as insufficient. Only 28% of respondents rated the government’s overall performance in gender equity highly.The public also believes that there is a gap between women’s involvement at the grassroots level and formal political representation; women are less likely to contest elections or hold party leadership and government appointments, compared to their active participation during voting and attending rallies. The survey indicates that public perception of the Nigerian government’s efforts in promoting gender equity is largely negative, as well as the government’s endeavours to pass laws and implement policies protecting women and girls from discrimination and violence.

There is, however, a glimmer of hope and an opportunity for gender equity to thrive in the country. Although Nigerians prioritize merit over gender (according to the survey), with 79% believing qualifications and competence should be the focus, not gender, the survey indicates that there is a growing public support for female political leadership, with 63% willing to vote for a woman president and 69% for a female state governor. This willingness suggests an increasing openness for women to hold top political offices and acceptance that women can occupy prominent political roles beyond just voting.

There is a strong public support for women’s active participation in politics. Although 41% believe women should always contest elections (a 7% decrease from the 2022 survey), and 42% believe women should always hold political appointments, a notable minority still believes women should never contest (8%) or hold appointments (8%).

Eighty-seven percent of respondents support equal access to education for boys and girls, indicating a positive development. Regarding women’s leadership, 71% of respondents agree that women should be allowed to lead in various sectors, representing a positive nod and an 8% increase in support compared to previous findings. This also extends to women’s rights, with 73% supporting equal entitlement to family inheritances and equal opportunities for women who marry into other states within their husband’s state of origin. Only a small minority expressed disagreement with these advancements in gender equity.

The survey’s findings will be a valuable resource for organizations conducting initial assessments before deploying projects focused on gender equity or equality. It presents the public’s opinions about government programmes, gaps in government-to-public and public-to-government gender relations, and the opportunities that governments at various levels can leverage to engage the people in responding to their needs and priorities related to the crucial issue of gender.

Here’s a link to the full report.

By Nneka Acholonu Egbuna, Development and Humanitarian Communications Expert

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Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

3 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

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