36% of married Nigerian women experience spousal violence – Report

About 36 per cent of married Nigerian women experience spousal violence in the country, a report from a survey conducted by Dataphyte and its parent organisation, Interactive, has shown.

The report said there are many cloudy days ahead for Nigerian girls and women as spousal violence is still a recurring feature.

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It said 66% of Nigerian females have no decision making power in marriage, adding that the situation not only calls for sober reflection, but policy change.

“This is why Dataphyte and its parent organisation, Interactive released an advocacy document titled Gender in Nigeria 2020. The report serves as a follow up to the National Population Commission’s 2013 Gender in Nigeria Report,’’ the report said.

This report also reviews development outcomes relating to women and girls in Nigeria, experiences defined typically by recurrent inadequacy in their access to critical health services, basic education, and economic empowerment opportunities.

“This is besides the wider front of sociocultural injustices that women and girls face. While infrastructural deficits and welfare inadequacies are apparent in various strata of life in Nigeria, findings show these shortages are more acute among women and girls,” it said.

Analysis of official data, according to the report, shows that many Nigerian citizens cannot own assets or inheritance because they are female.

It also reveals that many women do not have a say on the number of pregnancies they can or want to carry, that the choice on frequency of their pregnancies and use of contraceptives is still at the sole discretion of the male partner.

Furthermore, it also observed an upsurge in the number of sexual and gender based violence.

Survey responses show that while there are institutions established to give aid to victims, stigma around victims of sexual and domestic violence make them reluctant to report these incidences or seek justice in courts.

Findings from the analyses in the report show that a typical woman and girl child in Nigeria still lacks equal opportunities for personal development as men and boys do.

“This discrimination incapacitates the girl child and indeed every female from competing for scarce opportunities under the already austere societal conditions.

“This comes with grave impact on their health, welfare and capacity for self-help. Hindering women’s access to more rewarding vocations, overtly or subtly does not only limit human resource potential but discounts overall economic growth and national development,’’ it said.