Abstract

Nigeria women comprising 49.2% of the national population are not adequately represented at major decision making positions at various levels of governance. The study examined the achievement of Millennium development goal number three, (gender equality) by analyzing the level of women empowerment, and participation in politics and their direct impact on good governance using Ikenne Local Government as case study. The low participation of women was traceable to some factors such as lack of adequate finance, patriarchal nature of the society, electoral violence, general insecurity and rigging of elections. Both the primary and secondary sources of information were relied upon for the purpose of the study. Structured and pre-coded questionnaires were used in the gathering of primary data. Two hundred questionnaires were administered, of which one hundred and seventy were completely filled and returned. The findings of the study reveal that the level of women participation in politics was rather low, due to low level of women empowerment; as such it could not have an appreciable impact on the performance of predominantly male administrations. 78.2% of respondents believe that the level of women empowerment was low in Ikenne Local government; 82.8% of the respondents state that women participation in politics was relatively low; 80% of the respondents believe that lack of support from political godfathers is a major impediment to women participation; 82.2% were also of the opinion that many women were not directly involved in policy making; while 82.2% were of the opinion that more women getting elected into public office will enhance the achievement of good governance in the local government. Greater impetus in women empowerment efforts and improved awareness on women participation in politics is encouraged to ensure the achievement of good governance and MDGs goal number three.