By Prosper Mene
As Nigeria grapples with persistent economic challenges, the average woman finds herself bearing a heavy burden in an environment marked by soaring inflation, stagnant wages, and limited opportunities. With the nation’s inflation rate climbing to an estimated 31.6% in 2024 and projected to moderate only slightly to 20.7% in 2025, according to the African Development Bank, the cost of living has spiralled beyond the reach of many households. For women, who often manage family finances and shoulder caregiving responsibilities, this economic strain is particularly acute.
The typical Nigerian woman, whether a trader in Abuja’s bustling markets, a hairdresser in Lagos, or a farmer in the rural north or south, faces daily struggles to make ends meet. Take Amina, a 34-year-old mother of three in Kano, who spoke of her reality: “Food prices have doubled, but my income hasn’t moved. I sell vegetables, but after paying for transport and rent, there’s barely enough for one meal a day.” Her story exposes a broader trend, with the World Bank estimating that 38.9% of Nigerians lived below the poverty line in 2023—a figure likely worsened by recent economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and naira devaluation.
Women’s economic participation, while resilient, remains constrained.
The social fallout is stark. UN Women data indicates that 13.2% of women aged 15-49 experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner in 2018, a figure experts suggest may rise as economic pressures fuel household tensions. Moreover, with only 35.6% of women’s family planning needs met with modern methods as of 2018, reproductive health remains a distant priority for many amidst financial strain. For rural women, the situation is bleaker still, as agriculture, a key employer, grows slowly, leaving them disconnected from urban-centric service sector gains.
Government reforms under President Bola Tinubu, including efforts to boost oil production and stabilise the naira, promise long-term growth, with GDP projected to rise to 3.4% in 2025. However, analysts warn that these benefits may take years to trickle down. For now, the average woman relies on grit and ingenuity—selling wares, bartering goods, or joining savings groups—to survive. “We don’t wait for help,” said Blessing, a 29-year-old tailor in Port Harcourt. “If I stop, my children don’t eat.”
Calls for targeted support are growing. Advocates argue that affordable loans, improved market access, and investment in rural infrastructure could ease the burden on women, who constitute half of Nigeria’s 230 million population.
