Despite the numerous resources available in Africa and it’s encouraging pace in technological upgrade and general development, it is one continent where gender equality may remain a mirage if nothing is done about it. Despite its gradually improving thirst for advancement, sadly, women do not benefit enough from these developments as they are hindered by tradition, culture, religion, bias and more.
According to a report by Mckinsey Global Institute titled “The power of parity, advancing women’s equality in Africa”, progress towards gender equality has stalled, and Africa’s women lag behind their sisters in most other regions in most areas of their life. They therefore advise that the time has come to step up efforts to bring women into Africa’s promising future otherwise; Africa will not reach its full potential.
With developing countries in Africa, blessed with a promising future, the absence of gender equality can only further limit its obvious aptitudes. It is true that there are few remarkable feats here and there, however, most of the inspiring stories are those of women who are already at the peak of their careers, what about other female hopefuls?
The decision to ignore the importance of gender diversity will only kill their zeal to rise. There is a lot to gain if gender diversity is upheld. For instance, in Africa, it will result in securing extensive growth and surplus in the process. Africa could add $316 billion or 10 percent to GDP in the period to 2025 if African countries embrace gender parity.
If nothing is done or efforts dwindle, Africa could take more than 140 years to achieve gender parity.
The report says that a “full-potential” scenario in which women and men play identical roles in labour markets, Africa could potentially add $1 trillion, or 34 percent, to its collective GDP in the period to 2025, and $316 billion could be added to Africa’s GDP in 2025 if all countries matched the progress towards gender equality of their best-performing neighbour.
If Nigeria embraces gender parity, experts expects an additional 1.25 percent growth in her Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while equally improving national productivity because, in the attainment of sustainable development goals, closing gender gaps would be vital to creating equitable and fair access to economic resources.
However, among other African countries like Rwanda, Botswana and Egypt that have successfully tripled women’s representation in middle management for example, Nigeria is missing.
According to the Mckinsey report, Nigeria scores shameful lows. For gender equality at work is 0.58 (high), for essential services and enablers of economic opportunity, Nigeria scored 0.62 (high). For legal protection and political voice 0.18 (extremely high), Physical security and autonomy 0.82 (medium), for overall gender inequality in society 0.53 (high) and Overall GPS 0.55 (high).
Some women have attempted to go into politics but, saying there is still a long way to go won’t be canard. There is no level playing field for women. For instance, there are only 7 female senators in the National Assembly of 109 and 10 women in the House of Representative of 360, indeed a classic archetype of bias.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2020 is “I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights”. The question is, are we collectively walking towards helping to actualise gender parity? Are the rights of women acknowledged and respected?
It is saddening that despite the multitasking abilities of women to work, engage in business activities, play their roles as wife and mother, be proficient at work and other outstanding capabilities, they are often “excused” from unlocking their way to pecuniary prospects.
