Decades of research show that the inclusion of women within an economy results in mutual prosperity. That is, greater levels of freedom and status for female citizens and significant economic benefits for a nation.
One country that should arguably take note of such advice is Nigeria.
Here’s why…
Nigeria can lay claim to having the largest economy south of the Sahara. But in 2016 the country suffered a severe recession. And it was only just getting back to full health when the coronavirus pandemic hit – and hit hard.
Rising unemployment, low growth forecasts, and an economy over-reliant on oil mean Nigeria is now predicted to rebound at a slower rate than many of its neighbours.
Furthermore, it is now also the most unequal country on the planet. Over half of the Nigerian population – some 105 million people – are said to live in abject poverty. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, this poverty is disproportionately affecting women and girls.
Nigerian women are less likely to attend school than their male counterparts. They are less literate than men (41% vs. 61%); make up less of the workforce (50% vs. 60%), and are incredibly under-represented in Parliament (5.6% vs. 96.6%).
But it is perhaps the laws (or lack of) that hinder their most basic freedoms that make for the starkest facts.
Women are often prevented from completing many of the same tasks as men and are even barred from working in the same industries. Moreover, Nigerian law does not prohibit discrimination based on gender – by employers or creditors. It does not protect women from sexual harassment in the workplace, nor does it offer any clear penalties for domestic violence. And there is no law explicitly criminalizing marital rape.
There is a moral argument to empower women – both in Nigeria and across the world. But, curiously, there is also a strong economic one. Simply put – the participation of women in Nigeria’s workforce could grow their economy by a further 1.25%. And just to put that into context – in 2017 their economy grew by a mere 0.8%.
Efforts to empower women would also go some way to tackling Nigeria’s high dependency ratio. This is the number of people either too young or too old to work, compared with the number of people that comprise the workforce. Over half of Nigeria’s population is aged 15 or younger. And with population growth and fertility rates continuing to rise, dependency ratios are likely to remain high.
Countries that manage to reverse such figures can reap serious economic benefits. But for Nigeria, which suffers from poor infrastructure and a dire lack of electricity, confronting this issue is as much about survival as it is about success. For a country of 205 million people necessitates a productive workforce.
So what should be done?
Firstly, improve healthcare and education – for men and women.
For a country to benefit from a declining dependency ratio it simply must invest in both these areas. Only then can it begin to enjoy the benefits of a skilled workforce. Moreover, data suggests that increasing female education by just one year can reduce early fertility rates.
Secondly, introduce laws that protect women – both at home and at work. Criminalise all forms of domestic violence and provide support to victims. And allow women greater access to financial services.
The inclusion of women in the workforce is no cure-all for Nigeria’s ailing economy. But it is certainly a start.
Here’s hoping that all African women and their respective governments hear this clarion call for equality – both in its moral and its economic reason.
Sources
https://www.cfr.org/blog/nigerias-laws-hold-women-back-and-economy-suffers
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37228741
https://www.worldpoverty.io/map
http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GGGR_2018.pdf
https://nairametrics.com/2020/06/25/imf-expects-nigerias-gdp-to-shrink-by-5-4-in-2020/
https://www.imf.org/en/News/Podcasts/All-Podcasts/2018/03/08/nigeria-gender-inequality
https://blogs.worldbank.org/health/female-education-and-childbearing-closer-look-data
