Political Development of Women in Nigeria, 1985-2019

Victoria Kikelomo Olugbemi; Mary Banke Iyabo Omoniyi

Victoria Kikelomo Olugbemi Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria
Mary Banke Iyabo Omoniyi Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria

Abstract

After decades of the ratification of the Convention for Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), an international treaty which Nigeria signed on 23^rd April, 1984 and ratified on 13^th June 1985, the number of women elected to the three-tier of government in the Federal Republic of Nigeria was very insignificant during the 2015 election. This paper, therefore, examines the impact of CEDAW on the political development of Women in Nigeria from 1985 when Nigeria ratified it. The methodology adopted involves the use of phenomenology, primary and secondary sources for this research. The findings reveal that the twelve key critical areas of CEDAW served as stimulus for women to agitate for non-discrimination, state obligation and substantive gender equality, it however, did not improve their lot. Therefore, the way forward is that women should advocate and lobby for legislation in the domestication of CEDAW before the next election in 2023.

Keywords: Rights, International Treaty, Non-Discrimination, Legislation, Domestication.