Women’s education and development in Nigeria : a content analysis of Nussbaum’s capability approach applied to women’s empowerment (2010-2017)

Abstract

Irrespective of the several platforms and advocacy groups that have promoted women’s empowerment since the post-colonial days, Nigerian women have continued to be relegated to second-class roles. Various scholars like Sen and Nussbaum have constantly presented education as a tool for empowerment and augmentation of women’s roles. However, this is not the case in Nigeria as educated women are unable to attain the height to which the concept of empowerment posits or seen at the forefront of development. This thesis examines the veracity of Martha Nussbaum’s Capability Approach by putting to the test, by means of a case-study of Nigerian women, the role of educational capability in enhancing women’s empowerment, based on a content analysis of focused in-depth interviews of 26 Nigerian women, who are considered leaders in their respective fields, the thesis argues that despite enhanced educational qualifications women are still subject to entrenched patriarchal resistance.