Author(s): Okonkwor Oby CN and Patrick I Egaga

Abstract:
Nigerian women are in recent times improving their participation level in competitive sport. They even take part in sporting areas hitherto designated "male oriented sports" like boxing, wrestling, soccer, motor racing, etc. in addition to more feminine physical activities like aerobic exercises, dancing, gymnastics, hand ball, volley ball etc. It is on record that Nigerian women have made more success in international sport competitions than their men counterparts. This notwithstanding, the number of Nigerian women in sport leadership at various sport establishments is nothing to write home about. Discriminatory socio-cultural practices often meted out to the Nigerian sport women, negatively affect their participation in sport leadership. Each gender is endowed with special talents, skills and abilities to enable them contribute meaningfully to national development through leadership role. Unfortunately, the life of a woman in Nigeria is still shaped and reinforced by socio-cultural, psychological, religious and political factors that hinder their inclusion in sport leadership. The MDGs which is a developmental blue print of eight goals targeted (for 2015) are transforming to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (From 2016) geared to meeting the needs of the present time without compromising the needs of the future generations. The emphasis is on "17 goals to "transform the world". This paper has traced the historical trend of women participation in sport in Nigeria and examined the socio-cultural, psychological, religious and other factors that hinder their participation in sport leadership. Scanty representation of women in sport leadership in Nigeria is counter-productive to achieving the MDGs and by extension may affect the progress envisaged in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Strategies towards empowering the Nigerian women for greater involvement in sport leadership are recommended for achieving the SDGs.

Pages: 255-266  |  1091 Views  122 Downloads

Download Full Article: Click Here