Gender Participation in University Education in Nigeria: Closing the Gap

The National Policy on Education stipulated that there is need for equality of educational opportunities to all Nigerian children, irrespective of any real or imagined disabilities, each according to his or her ability. It further stressed that there will be the provision of equal access to educational opportunities for all citizens of the country at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels both inside and outside the formal school system. In spite of this policy commitment there still exists a wide gender disparity in university education in Nigeria. Therefore, this paper examines the concepts of gender and university education. Also, the paper highlights participation in university education by gender and locates the gender participation disparity barriers in university education in Nigeria. The paper concludes by identifying some intervention that can help close the existing gap between male and female in access to university education in Nigeria.