NIGERIA
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SDG 5
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SDG 5
Nigeria is a relevant case study for SDG 5 because it has developed laws and national policies aimed at improving gender equality and protecting women and girls. The country has adopted measures addressing women’s political participation, economic empowerment, gender-based violence, and harmful practices.
Progress can be seen in women’s participation in education and economic activities, as well as in efforts to combat child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and violence against women. Nigeria has also strengthened its legal framework through measures such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
However, significant challenges remain. Women continue to be underrepresented in political decision-making and face inequalities in employment, access to resources, and economic opportunities. Gender-based violence, child marriage, and FGM also remain important concerns, with considerable differences between regions and communities.
CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Political representation remains a major issue. Women occupy a limited share of seats in Nigeria’s national political institutions, highlighting the gap between women’s participation in society and their representation in decision-making.
Economic inequality is another important concern. Many Nigerian women work in agriculture, informal employment, and small businesses, but barriers to land ownership, finance, employment, and entrepreneurship can limit their economic independence. Women also carry a disproportionate share of unpaid domestic and care work.
Gender-based violence and harmful practices continue to affect women and girls. Child marriage and FGM are more prevalent in certain regions, while domestic and sexual violence remain concerns. Although Nigeria has introduced legislation and national programmes, implementation and access to justice and support services remain important challenges.
LIST OF REFERENCES
LIST OF REFERENCES
Government of Nigeria. (2025). Nigeria voluntary national review report 2025. https://nigerianyouthsdgs.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/VNR-2025-Nigeria-Report.pdf
Godfrey Okoye University. (n.d.). Research repository. https://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/5702/
United Nations Development Programme. (n.d.). Nigeria: Human Development Report data. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/NGA
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2025). Nigeria. OECD. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2025/11/revenue-statistics-in-africa-2025-country-notes_ee0ba7f7/nigeria_798060d4.html
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). SDG indicators: Nigeria country profile. United Nations. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal/countryprofiles/nga
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (n.d.). Nigeria. United Nations Human Rights Office. https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/nigeria
Sustainable Development Solutions Network. (2025). Nigeria: Sustainable Development Report 2025. https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/profiles/nigeria/
UN Women. (n.d.). Nigeria country data. UN Women Data Hub. https://data.unwomen.org/country/nigeria
UN Women. (n.d.). Nigeria. UN Women Africa. https://africa.unwomen.org/en/where-we-are/west-and-central-africa/nigeria
USEFUL LINKS
USEFUL LINKS
Country report/Voluntary National Reviews
Bibliography and UN pages about this country:
UNPD: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data?/countries/NGA
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal/countryprofiles/nga
UN human rights: https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/nigeria
UN WOMEN count: https://data.unwomen.org/country/nigeria
UN women: https://africa.unwomen.org/en/where-we-are/west-and-central-africa/nigeria
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