Women Empowerment for a Holistic Development in Nigeria

Women empowerment as a concept has been related to development, democracy and all kinds of social wellbeing. Nigeria like most African countries is a patriarchal society, where men holds sway and lays down the rules. This paper affirms the need for women empowerment for a holistic development in Nigeria. The paper took off identifying the duality and complementarity in nature .The paper reveals the origin of creation of both man and woman which by pronouncement of the creator, God, was essentially on the basis of complementing each other, which means that the man and woman supposed to be seen as equal. Apart from the theory and counter theory of gender as elaborated in the paper, the physical differences between the masculine and feminine gender, the paper highlights the activities of the famous feminist radical activists of the early 60’s and their ideologies. The various struggles for liberation of the feminine gender from the masculine domination are discussed. This paper compares the Nigerian woman of pre-colonial era and the present day Nigerian woman in franchise, financial responsibility etc. A figurative evaluation and analysis of the rights and privileges enjoyed by the Nigerian woman in the early post colonial era up to the present day situation is also mentioned. Finally, this paper emphasized the role of the media in women empowerment for a holistic development in Nigeria. In its role in empowerment the media has a hegemonic function and it is in addition seen as an agent of socialization.