Gender Inequality and Women’s Development in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Nigeria: Implications for Education and Employment

Gender inequality remains a persistent global challenge that undermines inclusive development and limits women’s full participation in socio-economic and political processes, particularly in developing regions. In Nigeria, and especially in the northern part of the country, entrenched socio-cultural and economic factors continue to restrict women’s access to education and economic opportunities. This study examines the effect of gender inequality on women’s development in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, Nigeria. Anchored on Liberal Feminist Theory, the study adopts a mixed-method research design, combining quantitative data from structured questionnaires with qualitative insights from Key Informant Interviews and secondary data sources. A sample size of 400 respondents was drawn from a population of 154,432 women using the Taro Yamane formula. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests at a 5% level of significance, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings reveal that gender inequality significantly constrains women’s access to employment opportunities and credit facilities, while also moderately affecting access to education. Key factors identified include cultural practices, early marriage, poverty, lack of collateral, and limited financial inclusion. The study further establishes a strong interconnection between educational deprivation and economic marginalization among women. The study concludes that gender inequality in Maiduguri is multidimensional, structural, cultural, economic, and psychological, and poses a major constraint to women’s development. It recommends policy reforms, expansion of girl-child education, gender-sensitive financial inclusion, and cultural reorientation to promote inclusive and sustainable development. Keywords: Gender Inequality, Women Development, Education, Employment, Maiduguri