Chapter one

Introduction

1.1  Back ground to the study

According to Aluko (2022) Women constitute at least half of Nigeria's population. They make important and largely unacknowledged contributions to economic life and play crucial roles in all spheres of society. In spite of Nigeria's long history of political parties, very few Nigerian women have held political offices either elected or appointed. This is partly due to the cultural and economic constraints that prevent women from actively participating in politics especially in Northern Nigeria, and the fact that political parties and indeed the electorate still feel reluctant to elect women in leadership positions((Ndlovu & Mutale, 2021). According to Musa (2023) the passive participation of women in the nation's political parties and policy making bodies suggests that affinitive action in favour of women has not been given adequate attention. This affects women's power in influencing the nation's public policies. As already adumbrated, by their demographic advantage, women have the capacity to decide on the political leadership. Furthermore But very few women emerge to the leadership positions of political parties and even fewer become party candidates for electoral contests.

Again according to Adeleke (2021) One of the defining or essential developments of contemporary times has been the global drive toward gender equality in politics and political leadership. Today's media debates are centred on achieving equity and justice for all people, especially women. Due to the minimal engagement of women in leadership, politics and government, women's rights problems have attracted the attention of policymakers, experts, and civil society organizations (Aluko 2022). Leadership, particularly political leadership, is critical to any nation's success. Any country's progress, development, and fortunes are dependent on the type and quality of political leadership it has had and continues to have. Leadership, like other processes, is, nonetheless, gendered. Institutional leadership is gendered, just as institutionalized practices and the institutional structures themselves (Moshood, et al, 2020). Within hierarchies that favour men over women, certain processes, practices, structures, and institutions exist. Women and men who pass through these institutions and procedures do so as a lived experience, taking with them all of their traits (e.g., sex, class, education), beliefs, and life lessons learned through their own bodies. As a result, women and men seeking political leadership must contend with institutionalized gender dominance, which moulds and structures their lived experience of leadership. Each reality is more than a matter of personal preference or discrimination.

It's a result of established gender structures. As a result, women and men have distinct experiences as a result of this. Since  their variety and life experiences impact their leadership, not all women and men have the same experiences (Aluko, 2022). Historically, women have been excluded from governmental organizations that define political and legislative agendas. When compared to the low rates of female political representation in the 1990s, Nigeria has seen a rapid increase in female political representation in recent years. Women's participation in decision-making is becoming increasingly important on the global agenda (Ndlovu & Mutale, 2021). Confirmatory changes in Nigerian governance, aided by the continent's growing democratic consolidation, have increased women's political leadership and engagement. Various laws, programs, and projects are in place to promote gender equality and women's empowerment, and numerous achievements have been recorded in the advancement of gender equality and women's participation political leadership. Although Nigerian  women especially women in Karu local government  have achieved considerable progress in terms of political engagement in the area, a huge gap still exists. Women have a monumental challenge before being recognized as complete equals and partners to their male counterparts when it comes to political leadership. The adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is currently providing worldwide support for the fight to secure political leadership and participation for women. These are seventeen goals that address environmental, social, and economic concerns, with a deadline of 2030. SDG 5 focuses on promoting and achieving gender equity and equality, women's empowerment, and ensuring effective and active representation, equitable participation, and leadership opportunities for women in economic, public, and political decision-making processes (Childs 2020).

The third wave of the international women's movement, which began in the 1990s, expanded the scope of women's action to include the demand for greater political representation for (Aluko 2022). It is founded on the premise that the realization of women's equal right to vote, right to property ownership, and general emancipation from patriarchal contexts is primarily contingent on satisfactory women's participation in decision-making processes. Women's groups in various parts of the Nigeria have intensified their campaign for national policies and legislation that would allow for gender quotas in order to achieve the ultimate goal of establishing more political space for women (Childs & Krook 2008). Apparently, in this broad struggle for women’s political emancipation, women in Nigeria are not left out. Especially since the opening of democratic windows towards the end of the 20th century, Nigerian women are noted for initiating clamour for positive action that could break the barriers obstructing their adequate political presence in government. Yet, unlike the cases of other African states, where quotas laws have already become a successful story, there is less scholarly work on the patterns of such movement as well as its precipitating factors in Nigeria specifically or comparatively. This is notwithstanding the fact that Nigeria is a leading Anglophone states in West Africa with respect to population and women’s activism. Against this background, the present  examines an assessment of women political and leadership styles in nigeria a study of karu l.g.a nasarawa state.

1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Over the years, there has been raging debates over the political leadership and participation or desire of women in Nigerian politics. Musa (2023) argue that Women are regarded as weaker sexes are social constructs owing to social value, norms and beliefs, which have neglected their meaningful contributions towards leadership and have placed them in a subordinate position to men in the nation’s political system especially in Northern Nigeria(KARU local government). Furthermore This ‘sexual division of labor’ in the political system is often traced to the onset of colonialism in Nigeria. Their Western cultural notion of male superiority reflected in their relations with Nigerians. This has created a gap between women and their ability to participate in political leadership today, thus affecting their influences on the society or community which they found themselves. It is to this the study centers on an assessment of women political and leadership styles in nigeria a study of karu l.g.a nasarawa state .

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1 What is the impact of women in leadership  on promotion of democracy in Nigeria?

2 what is the Impact of Culture as a Barrier to Political Participation of women  in karu l.g.a Nasarawa state?

3 What are the barriers to women leadership and participation in politics in karu l.g.a Nasarawa state?

4 What are the ways of enhancing to women leadership and participation in politics in karu l.g.a Nasarawa state?

1.5 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The main aim of the study is an assessment of women political and leadership styles in Nigeria a study of Karu l.g.a Nasarawa state . other specific objectives include:

1) To examine the impact of women in leadership on promotion of democracy in Nigeria

2) To examine the Impact of Culture as a Barrier to Political Participation of women  in karu l.g.a nasarawa state

3)To outline the barriers to women leadership and participation in politics in karu l.g.a nasarawa state

4) To recommend ways of enhancing to women leadership and participation in politics karu l.g.a nasarawa state

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study would have contribution to enlighten the society on An Assessment Of Women Political And Leadership Styles In Nigeria A Study Of Karu L.G.A Nasarawa State.. It would also prepare ground for interested researcher who might wish to conduct further research in related areas and could contribute to the existing literature.

1.6              SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is restricted to women participation in politics and its impact on the development of the society

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Woman: A woman is an adult female human. The term woman may also refer to a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural women are sometimes used for female humans regardless of age, as in phrases such as "women's rights."

Politics: Is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups or other forms of power relations between individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The academic study of politics is referred to as political science.