Abstract:
Across the world, some authors have argued that the roles of women in the development of any society are indispensable. Such authors might not intend to undermine the role of men in development but could be trying to reinforce and commend women’s burden on conception for nine months, bringing forth babies, nurturing and educating them, firstly by informal and later by formal methods. Despite this, previous studies have shown that the priority places on women affairs vary from one society to another. While the priority is seemed to be very strong in many developed nations, it appears to be very weak in developing countries due to the norms of patriarchy that is strongly embedded in the culture of African countries. Patriarchy is a cultural practice that supports the subjugation of women and the superiority of men without any scientific evidence. Certainly, the literature has illustrated than man lives by his culture which is dynamic in nature but it is amazing to realise that its dynamic nature has yielded no positive result in altering the ancient obnoxious cultural practices in African countries such as Nigeria, in-spite her contact with Western civilization. Such practices include but not limited to the practice of female genital mutilation, preference for a male-child, denial of a girl-child inheritance, betrothal, widowhood rites etc. In modern society, such practices as exemplified in several studies have negatively affected women’s education, maternal health, entrepreneurship and national development. Regardless of this, it appears no significant improvements have been recorded in these special spheres of women lives in Nigeria. It is on this note this paper was conceived. Using data retrieved from a secondary source and content analysis as its methodology, the paper examines women’s education, maternal health, entrepreneurship and development in Nigeria. The paper uses radical feminism as a theoretical standpoint or insight into the plights of women. The expediency of this article is hinged on the goals of development in the 21st century which are centred on human development and not only on men development. Given this, the paper in its concluding section advocates impartial opportunity for men and women to develop their potentials for personal and societal development.
