Diane Olatunde

Women Participation and Representation in Nigerian Politics 1999-2009: Gender Issues in Nigerian Politics Diane Olatunde

Gender Equality is a widely discusses subject and in the area of politics it is an issue that cannot be over emphasized. This study is based on an initiative to highlight gender issues that are prevalent in Nigerian Politics in recent times. It is about 10years now since the return to a democratic dispensation after a long struggle with political instability. And in the spirit of acclaimed ?true democracy?, how have the women fared? The study examines the level of inclusion and participation of women within this time frame especially in key positions and decision making. It specifically explores the influence of partisan politics on the overall women participation, the commitment so far. Various policy recommendations of a minimum of 30% women representation was used as a scale of measure in the analysis. The study reveals the various stages of the clamor for access, presence and influence, some accomplishments and the crippling challenges.