Nigeria shows strong public support for women leaders but institutional gaps persist
Nigeria's public strongly supports women in leadership, with 89% comfortable with women as CEOs and 77% for political leaders, according to the 2025/2026 Reykjavik Index for Leadership report. The nation's leadership readiness score rose slightly to 59, reflecting growing confidence in women's capabilities. However, only 55% believe workplace equality exists, creating a 34-point gap between acceptance and actual equality. Banking and finance lead in gender equity at 73 points, while childcare scores just 33 points. Women hold 31.1% of corporate board seats but only 4.2% in parliament. Experts urge institutional reforms to translate public support into tangible opportunities, particularly in undervalued sectors like care and creative industries.