Educating against Discrimination, Prospects of Female Citizens in Nigeria: The Open Distance Learning as a Panacea

Abstract

In some parts of the world, especially Africa, it is believed that the place of a woman is in the kitchen and girls are trained to grow up and take the same role. Women in those days are relevant only when they meet the needs of their men. They have no say in decisions that concerns them. Boys on the other hand are trained to believe that they are family heads and decision makers. They can marry as many women as they like even in a state of penury. Females have an advantage of high survival rate of longevity over men and as a result female outnumber male in population. Regardless of this, women and girls seem to be deprived in many areas like health, education, sports, politics and socio-economic advancement. In times of war, violence or disaster, women and children seem the worst hit; it is women and girls that are most vulnerable to violence and exploitation. There had been so many reports and declarations in relation to gender sensitivity of boys and girls e. g. the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-5 September 1995, the Expert Group Meeting (EGM): prevention of violence against women and girls was convened as part of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women’s multi-year programme of work for 2010-2014 in Bangkok. This study sought to examine different kinds of discrimination against women and girls, explain the possible means of educating, enlightening and empowering them, and analyze their prospects and potentials. In carrying out the research, two research questions and one hypothesis were formulated. The study was carried out in Lagos state, Nigeria and the population of the study comprised of women and girls in Lagos state, Nigeria. Questionnaire (LSWGD) was used for data collection. The data generated were analyzed with mean and t-test. It was found that there are significant differences between male and females in Lagos state, Nigeria. The most discriminated against are the illiterates. Recommendations were made based on the findings. // Paper ID: 270