Education and Women Empowerment: A Panacea for Peace and National Development in Nigeria
Keywords:
national development, peace, women empowerment, Gender educationAbstract
The importance of women in peace building and national development is pertinent. However, in all societies, men and women are integrally linked. Gender equality is a human right, empowered women and girls contribute to the health, education and productivity of families, communities and countries, creating a ripple effect that benefits everyone. However, discrimination in girls’ access to education persists in many parts of Nigeria particularly within the rural areas, owing to customary attitudes, early marriages and pregnancies, inadequate and gender-bias teachings and education materials, sexual harassment and lack of adequate schooling facilities. This work discusses women in politics, women empowerment, society and status of women, women education, counseling technique or services needed to assist women in actualizing their potentials. There is need for increased participation of women in peace processes and leadership positions through outreach activities such as public awareness, sensitization and rallies; media activities.
References
Adefarasin, H. A. (2005). Mobility Nigerian women for participation in national development. In the
Report of the National Seminar on social Development policy of Nigeria. Volume II Zaranda
Hotel, Bauchi
Aina, O. I. (2012). Two halves make a whole: gender at the cross-road of the Nigerian development
agenda- An Inaugural Lecture Series 250, lIe Ife: Obafemi Awolowo University Press Limited.
Bagudo, A. A (2000). Empowerment and Teacher Education: Towards the Growth of Teaching Profession
as an Influential labour in the 21st Century. A paper Presented at the 18th Annual conference
of Philosophy of Education association of Nigeria (PEAN) held at Conference Centre, University
of Ibadan. 16th – 19th October.
Dewey, N. D (Nd). Progressive Education Theory. Retrieved on 20th June 2007 from http://
www.bgsu.edu/departments/acs/1890s/dewey/educ.html.
Elshtain J. B. (1999). Public Man, Private Woman-Women In Social and Political Thought. New
Jersey: Princeton University Press ICPD, Empowering and Educating Girls and Women, http://www.unfpa.org/icpd_ed.htm1
Girl-Child Education Project (Nd). Retrieved 12th March 2006 from http://www.maendeleo-yawanawake.org/girled.htm.
Human Rights Watch (2005). The Less They Know, the Better: Abstinence-Only; HIV/AIDS Programs
in Uganda. New York: Human Rights Watch
Jackson, H. (2002). AIDS: Africa Continent in Crisis. SAFAIDS. Harare
Independent Policy Group (2003). Women Empowerment in Nation Building. Report on the
Consultation Forum on Women Empowerment. Abuja: IPG Centre.
Kathleen, K. (2014). Engaging and Educating Women and Girls in the Prevention of Violent Conflict
and Violent Extremism. House Committee on Foreign Affairs website
Matembe, M. (2002). Gender, Rights and Constitution Making in Uganda. Kampala: Fountain
Publishers.
Mwangi, E. (2004). News From Africa. Retrieved on 12th March 2006 from http://
www.newsfromafrica.org/newsfromafrica/articles/art_4400.html)
Ndubusi, U. A. (2005). Female Participation in Politics. Women Journal for Technical Education, 4, 82
– 83.
Oni, A. A. (2001). Women Political Empowerment in a Democratic Nigeria: Can Education Solve It?
Ibadan Journal of Educational Studies (i) pp. 185 – 196.
Peace Education; contains Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved on 10
March from http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/peace/frame2.htm
United Nations Crime and Justice Research Institute (2009). Women empowerment activities
(information, counseling, orientation, education, training, skill acquisition, micro- crediting)
United Nations (1991). The Women’s World (1970-1990): Trends and Statistics. United Nations.
United Nations (1993). World Campaign for Human Rights: Discrimination Against Women: The
Convention and the Committee: Fact Sheet No. 22, United Nations.
