ECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR WOMEN IN NIGERIA 2014-2023

Abstract

This study examines systemic economic inequality, employment disparities, and restricted access to financial capital faced by women in Nigeria from 2014 to 2023, using Gender Inequality Theory as its theoretical framework. The research highlights the interplay of structural and cultural barriers that sustain women’s marginalization in economic activities. Employing a qualitative approach, the study relies on secondary data from reputable sources, including the World Bank, Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Oxfam. Content analysis was utilized to identify recurring themes and patterns, aligning the analysis with the study’s objectives. The findings reveal persistent economic inequality characterized by women’s overrepresentation in the informal sector, where they face low wages, precarious conditions, and limited legal protections. Cultural norms and discriminatory institutional practices continue to exclude women from high-paying formal jobs and restrict their access to financial capital, perpetuating cycles of poverty. Despite interventions such as microfinance programs and gender equity initiatives, weak implementation, patriarchal norms, and discriminatory lending practices have limited their impact.  The study concludes that addressing these issues requires a multidimensional approach, including reforms in land ownership laws, the adoption of gender-sensitive financial systems, and workplace policies that accommodate women’s dual roles as caregivers and workers. Recommendations include scaling up microfinance programs, enforcing affirmative action policies, and launching national awareness campaigns to challenge patriarchal norms.