Of the 270 universities in Nigeria, only 12 have female Vice Chancellors.
Until February 6, 2025 that number was 13, before the Federal Government removed the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Aisha Maikudi.
The university system in Nigeria relies on various principal officers, including the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Registrar, Librarian, and Bursar. These officers assume crucial roles within the university system.
The Vice‐Chancellor is responsible to the council for the leadership, management and development of the University and the realisation of its strategic plan. The Vice‐Chancellor is also the University’s principal academic officer.
Since 1960, only 38 of the over 720 individuals who have held the position of Vice Chancellor in the Nigerian University System have been women, while the remaining have been men.
The ratio of males to females in the Vice-Chancellor leadership shows a gender disparity between males and females in education leadership.
Currently, there are 258 male vice-chancellors in Nigeria and 12 female vice-chancellors which is about 95.3 percent to 4.7 percent.
Also, with a ratio of 23.3% of female researchers, Nigeria ranks the 23rd in Africa in this metric. Mauritius, South Africa and Cabo Verde tops the list of countries with the highest share of female researchers in Africa with 48.60%; 46.60%; and 45.80% respectively.
Addressing Gender Disparity in the Nigerian Academic Sector
Just like in much of Nigerian society, gender inequality in Nigeria’s academic leadership persists, which negatively impacts women’s advancement in higher education leadership positions.
Kafilat Taiwo is a data journalist and researcher at Dataphyte. She holds a degree in Mass Communication and a Diploma in Health Studies.
She focuses on gender reporting, health communication, solutions journalism, investigative reporting, and social accountability reporting to influence policy for developmental purposes.
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @K_taiwoh
LinkedIn: Kafilat Taiwo
