Gender and Christian Higher Education in Nigeria

Abstract

Gender discrimination is still very high in Africa, including in the church. Often the arguments for gender disparity do not have objective grounds. However, those who advocate gender parity are often as subjective and sentimental as those who oppose it. There is a need for more objective arguments, based on empirical observations of the roles and performances of women in various endeavors, in advocating gender parity. In recent years, many Christian denominations have established Christian universities in Nigeria with the stated aim of providing Christian higher education. How have these universities affected the status of women in Nigeria? What trends in gender relationships may be observed from the work of these universities? This paper researches the impact of two of the Christian universities in southwestern Nigeria on the faith of their male and female students, and finds that the self-worth of women has been positively impacted along with the apparently positive influence of the universities on the faith of their male and female students. The paper recommends more deliberate efforts on the part of Christian universities in southwestern Nigeria to both pursue Christian higher education and to enhance gender parity.