A professor at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Yemisi Ibiwunmi Ogunlela, has called for gender-sensitive public policies and transformative administration to address inequality and ensure equitable opportunities for men and women to contribute to national development. Ogunlela made the call while delivering the university’s 44th Inaugural Lecture, titled ‘She Is a Beautiful Baby Girl, He Is a Bouncing Baby Boy: Implications for Public Policy and Development Administration’. The lecture highlights the need for policies that address the root causes of gender inequality.
Ogunlela argued that gender inequality extends beyond cultural beliefs and individual discrimination to the structures and practices of public institutions. She noted that policies and institutional arrangements often translate biological differences into unequal access to education, healthcare, employment and leadership opportunities. According to her, everyday expressions used to describe newborns reflect societal expectations that can shape their lives from childhood. These expressions can influence educational and career choices, professional advancement and access to leadership positions.
The professor identified maternal mortality, women’s limited participation in decisions about their reproductive health and their under-representation in political leadership as issues requiring urgent attention in Nigeria. She stressed that these challenges should be addressed through effective public administration, institutional reforms and respect for human rights, alongside cultural and healthcare interventions. Ogunlela also warned that policies presented as gender-neutral could perpetuate inequality if they failed to account for the different circumstances of men and women.
Ogunlela cited promotion systems that reward uninterrupted career progression as an example of policies that could disadvantage women, who often bear a disproportionate share of unpaid caregiving responsibilities. To address the disparities, she urged governments and public institutions to collect and use gender-disaggregated data to identify inequalities and design policies responsive to the needs of different population groups. This, she believes, will help in designing policies that cater to the needs of different population groups.
The professor advocated a shift from ‘reproductive administration’ to ‘transformative administration’, which critically examines established systems and seeks fairer and more effective outcomes. Her recommendations included integrating gender considerations into development plans, investing in the girl child, improving maternal and reproductive healthcare and strengthening collaboration among ministries responsible for health, education, infrastructure and finance. These measures aim to address the root causes of gender inequality.
Ogunlela further urged policy makers to move beyond treating everyone identically and provide support that reflects differing needs while removing the structural barriers that sustain inequality. She emphasized that the goal is not to make men and women identical but to ensure that a child’s sex does not determine the quality of opportunities available to them. This approach will help in promoting inclusive national development.
In his remarks, the deputy vice-chancellor (Academic), Prof Chiedu Mafiana, commended Ogunlela for highlighting the relationship between gender relations, public policy and national development. Mafiana emphasized the need to translate research findings into practical measures that improve governance and institutional performance. The lecture is seen as a step towards promoting gender-sensitive policies in Nigeria.
Key points
- Professor Yemisi Ibiwunmi Ogunlela advocates for gender-sensitive public policies to address inequality in Nigeria.
- Ogunlela calls for a shift from ‘reproductive administration’ to ‘transformative administration’ to promote inclusive national development.
- The professor urges policy makers to provide support that reflects differing needs while removing structural barriers that sustain inequality.
