AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF WOMEN PARTICIPATION ON THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF NIGERIA: A STUDY OF AJEROI IFELODU LGA, LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA.

This study focuses on the impact of women participation on the political system of Nigeria: a study on Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA, Lagos State, Nigeria. This study is limited to Lagos State, Nigeria. The main objectives of the study is first: to determine the roles women played in development of Nigeria particularly in Lagos state, secondly, to ascertain the factors that affect women participation in the political system of Nigeria in Lagos state, to investigate ways that can encourage women participation in politics in Lagos state, and lastly to examine the effects of women participation on politics in Lagos state. The study made use of Liberal Feminist Theory and Gender Mainstreaming Theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and population of this study consist of the residents in Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA in Lagos State. This study shows that Nigerian women are unrecognized in the elective and appointive positions in Lagos State. The participation of women in the political system promotes socio economic development and an evidence of achieving strong democracy. Despite this benefit of having women in governance, women are still limited in appointive and elective positions. The study recommends that the federal government should make it mandatory that certain public offices be allotted to women on equal basis. This will dissolve any form of discrimination of women.