Home > Gender, Women's Studies > Vol 1 No 1 June 2013 Abstract 4
The Role of Women in Nigerian Politics: Addressing the Gender Question for an Enhanced Political Representation in the Fourth Republic
Erunke, Canice Esidene; Shuaibu Umar Abdul
International Journal of Gender and Women’s Studies, 1(1), pp. 45-55.

Abstract
This paper is an exploration of the role of women in the Nigerian politics. The inferiority complex of women regarding active political participation and representation constitute the bane of this study. However, it was argued by Karl Marx that the inferiority nature of women generally, was a function of chauvinistic nature of men to perpetuate their domination on them in all ramifications. This gender bias in Nigeria’s political system is often traced to the onset of colonialism in Nigeria. Thus the western cultural notion of colonialism woven around male superiority reflected in their relations with Nigerians. The authors adopted both conceptual and theoretical analysis of issues on political participation and representation, to ascertain how women are generally dominated by men in the scheme of things. The most critical element of this discourse is however that women are, and have been sidelined in the political scheme of things in Nigeria and this state of affairs spells a dangerous omen for the Nigerian system which is now literally dominated and controlled by men. In the past, experience has shown, of course as demonstrated in the study, that women’s political roles have contributed immensely in the shaping of the Nigerian politics not only in democratic governance; but also during the pre-colonial era.

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Erunke, Canice Esidene. & Abdul, Umar Shuaibu. (2013). The Role of Women in Nigerian Politics: Addressing the Gender Question for an Enhanced Political Representation in the Fourth Republic. International Journal of Gender and Women’s Studies, 1(1), pp. 45-55.

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Erunke Canice Esidenehails from Utugwang in Obudu LGA,Cross River State. He attended Community Secondary School,Utugwang between 1984-1988.He then proceeded to Mary-Knoll College,Ogoja in 1989 and graduated in 1990.He is presently a research Assistant/ Lecturer with the Nasarawa State University,keffi, Department of Political Science. He holds a bachelors and Masters degree in Political Science, Nasarawa State University,Keffi.He is currently a PhD research candidate at the Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.His area of specialization is Public Administration and Public Policy Analysis. He has several academic awards including Certificate of Merit, Best Graduating Student (2005),Nasarawa state University, keffi, Department of Political Science; Certificate of Merit,National Association of Political Science Students(NAPSS),(2003/2004); award as excellent Reviewer of the year(2009),University of Taipei in Taiwan. His research interest includes Public Policy Analysis, Democracy and Good Governance, Women Rights Studies, Politics of the Environment,Security and Peace Studies, etc.He is widely published in reputable peer-reviewed academic journals of both national and international standards(spread across United Kingdom, Canada, Africa, USA, Macedonia, India,etc) with over 30 articles(journal articles and book chapters), to his credit. Erunke Canice is a member of National Political Science Association(NPSA);member, Council for American Students in International Negotiations; member, International Studies Association(ISA),USA;member,Peace and Collaborative Development Network; member, Contemporary Management Research, and member, International Research and Development Network(IRDI). Erunke Canice is Departmental secretary, and coordinator,400 Level, Department of Political Science,Nasarawa State University,keffi,Nigeria.

Shuaibu Umar Abdul
Department of Political Science
Nasarawa State University, Keffi
P.M.B. 1022, Nigeria
West Africa