Shirley Ewang is an Advocacy Lead at Gatefield
If you asked people around the world which countries are most likely to recognise that women are equally capable of leadership as men, many would point to G7 nations like Germany or Canada. Nigeria, however, might not come to mind. This assumption is changing, though. Today, 90% of Nigerians believe that a woman can lead a company, and 77% believe a woman can be president. According to the 2025–2026 Reykjavík Index for Leadership, which measures societal perceptions of gender equality across 23 sectors, Nigeria has achieved a score of 59. Germany, a founding member of the G7, scores 60. This one-point difference is a statement of national readiness. Nigeria is no longer just an emerging market in terms of gender progressive attitudes; it is performing on par with one of the most developed economies.
Nigeria’s private and public sectors must now move from readiness to representation and action.
Nigeria’s Index score rise this year was driven largely by a positive shift in the attitudes of men, which narrowed the gender perception gap from 8 points in 2024 to 5 points in 2025. It identifies family and upbringing as the main factors influencing these views (30%), surpassing formal education (18%).
The cultural readiness for female leadership is taking shape, yet our institutions are falling behind. 64% of Nigerians advocate for gender equality in leadership roles in government and politics, but the reality is stark: women occupy only 4.2% of seats in Nigeria’s House of Parliament, compared to a Sub-Saharan African average of 27%. We have the attitudinal infrastructure of a G7 nation, but the institutional representation of a laggard.
Banking Shows Bias Can Be Broken
Nigeria’s national average of 59 score in the Reykjavík Index is largely in the Banking and Finance sector. With a score of 73, it is the national leader in gender-balance perception, a lead over the national average by 14 points. This is a result of intentional policies that advance women in leadership. The sector currently has nine female bank CEOs and boards, where female representation has grown from 21% in 2020 to 31.1% in 2024, showing how visible women leaders can shift perceptions and reduce bias. Where women are seen, leadership is normalised. In contrast, bias strongholds like Engineering (46) and Childcare (33) lag because they remain segregated. The childcare sector falls behind the banking sector by 40 points, reflecting a society that views nurturing the next generation as an informal, gendered domestic work rather than a professional, high-value economic driver. To close this gap, other private sectors must stop viewing gender balance as a social favour and start treating it as a high-performance business strategy.
Lessons from the G7
While Nigeria is on par with Germany in perception, it can do better in implementation by adopting models used across the G7.
Canada and France (both scoring 71) have utilised private-sector targets and transparency reporting to ensure perception translates into senior roles. The G7 countries have recognised that the care economy is an important economic engine, leading to their investment in the sector. In Nigeria, the childcare sector’s score is 33, and that suggests how gendered roles are viewed, instead of a professional industry.
Nigeria is neglecting an estimated $111 billion annual GDP because of a lack of formalised childcare and investment in the childcare sector. By investing in childcare infrastructure and corporate crèches—as seen in higher-scoring G7 nations—Nigeria can unlock an estimated 17 million additional jobs by 2030.
So, while Nigeria’s public perception of women leaders is shifting, the next step is for leaders to match that readiness with bold action. For the federal government, this means codifying proven models like the banking sector’s approach across regulated industries, ensuring meaningful female representation on boards and executive teams. Private sector leaders shouldn’t wait for mandates, but rather replicate what works, internal targets, inclusive hiring, and supportive workplace infrastructure, such as employer-sponsored childcare. It’s time for action in Nigeria.
The post Shirley Ewang: Nigeria Is Ready for Women Leaders; So What’s Missing? appeared first on BellaNaija – Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!.
If you asked people around the world which countries are most likely to recognise that women are equally capable of leadership as men, many would point to G7 nations like Germany or Canada. Nigeria, however, might not come to mind. This assumption is changing, though. Today, 90% of Nigerians believe that a woman can lead
The post Shirley Ewang: Nigeria Is Ready for Women Leaders; So What’s Missing? appeared first on BellaNaija – Showcasing Africa to the world. Read today!. Read More
