EVALUATING GENDER INCLUSION ON THE LEADERSHIP RUNG OF THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Globally, discrimination against women is not a new phenomenon. In Nigeria, women are relegated to the background because gender recognition is alien to Nigerian tradition and culture. This gender bias is not peculiar to a particular sector but it cuts across every sector in the economy, banking industry is not an exception. This paper evaluates the female gender inclusive in the leadership rung of the financial institutions in Nigeria over the years. Secondary data was employed and it was discovered that there was only one female at the executive levels of the Nigeria financial institutions in the 80s, in the early 90s there were very few of them but between the 20th and this present dispensation there has been more women inclusion in the leadership landscape of Nigeria financial institution. As of the Q2 of 2024 there are 10 women at the executive leadership rung of the financial institutions. A situation that was orchestrated by the declaration made at the fourth World Conference on women in Beijing which advocate for 30% affirmative action. This was implemented in the 2012 extant National Gender Policy that recommend 35% instead to sought for a more inclusive representation of women in executive positions in Nigeria.