WOMEN AND GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA: LESSONS FROM SOKOTO CALIPHATE

Abstract

Women in Governance in the world and Nigeria in particular have had inadequate opportunities in
political, social and political participation especially their political rights i.e. rights to vote though they
still represent a smaller group in government with bigger challenges. Women participation in
governance have along decade of struggle and activism. Sokoto caliphate that is ruled by sharia
injunctions but before the Islamic revolution women in Sokoto caliphate lived in ignorance by Usman Dan
fodio imparted the Islamic knowledge on the people especially the women folk. The political
participation in Sokoto caliphate is based in an Islamic manner to ensure justice and equity. The study
seeks to address the genesis of women participation in governance regarding Sokoto caliphate and the
obstacles and hurdles the encounter in their struggle for better involvement in governance by using the
structural functional theory.