women in academic positions in the universities in nigeria

In Nigeria, as in most other developing countries, university educationhas always favoured men. This is because most females, faced with uneducatedparents, poor career guidance, early marriages and child-bearing, ignorance,poverty and sex discrimination among others, do not get the right education toprepare them for academic and senior administrative positions in the universitysystem. The reasons for giving preference to boys when it comes to tertiaryeducation are quite well known in the patriarchal family system whichpredominates in many parts of the country, especially in South Eastern Nigeria.In some parts of Nigeria, it is even a taboo in their culture to educatefemale children because they are expected to be available for early marriages toelderly but affluent suitors. The money thus realized from their bride price,presented by the in-laws, is used for the education of male siblings since theyare the ones to retain and propagate the family name. By this practice access tofemale education is delayed in favour of their male siblings and sometimes it iscompletely ignored. It is however interesting to note that these social attitudestowards women and what they are expected to do is gradually changingespecially in many parts of southern Nigeria where women are now having moreaccess to higher education than before.2.2 Literature ReviewIn most countries, universities play an important role in the cultural,intellectual and scientific leadership. While women have moved towards equalrepresentation in the university student population in developed countries, theirrepresentation in post graduate students and consequently academic and otherpositions in the university is small. On the other hand, women’s involvement in