Challenges of Northern Nigerian women liberation and involvement in trade union movements

Abstract

Nigerian trade union movements were initiated to protect the right and interest of its members. Because of this the paper aim to examine the challenges of Northern Nigerians women’s liberation and involvement in trade union movements. Surely, women are encountering numerous challenges in the NTU of the Northern region and are not well empowered in trade union movements of the Northern region. These challenges have repeatedly postured a danger or set back to women participation, empowerment, and representation in the trade unionism of the region. This study is qualitative in nature. Data were obtained through primary and secondary sources of data collection, by the used of semi-structured questionnaires and systematic review of related literature. This aided the researcher in acquiring suitable and right data on the topic under study. In explaining the topic under study Social Constructivism and Liberal Feminist theories was used, the supposition of these theories positioned on gender disparity as man-made not naturally formed. The study found that cultural stereotype, religion factors, unequal access to the education time factor, poverty, among others have harmfully paid to women empowerment and participation in trade union movements of the Northern region. Thus, the research recommends that the government should provide women with free education and different kinds of skills acquisition programmes to empower them to participate in the trade union movements in the Northern region. Religion leaders and parents should enlighten their children/women on the significance of women participation and empowerment in the trade union activities of the Northern region.