Deeply ingrained patriarchal systems often relegate women to domestic roles, restricting their participation in the economic sphere.
Limited access to education has caused significant barriers to education, including early marriage and cultural preferences for educating males, resulting in higher illiteracy rates among women.
In Nigeria, about 20 million women lack access to formal financial services. Women face challenges in inheriting or owning land and assets, which limits their ability to secure collateral for loans, despite bearing the brunt of household chores and child-rearing.
Women are predominantly engaged in the informal sector and petty trading, with limited access to formal, high-paying jobs and significant wage disparities. They also suffer exclusion from political and economic decision-making processes, leading to fewer gender-sensitive decisions.