WARDC Partners to Launch Research on Structural Barriers Facing Female Academics

The Women’s Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), in collaboration with its development partners, has launched a comprehensive research project aimed at identifying and dismantling systemic barriers that hinder the career progression of female academics in Nigerian tertiary institutions, Punch reports.

The initiative is designed to address deep-rooted challenges, including gender-based discrimination, unequal access to research grants, sexual harassment, and the lack of supportive institutional policies, that disproportionately affect women in academia. By collecting empirical data and firsthand experiences, the project seeks to provide an evidence-based framework to advocate for policy reforms within universities and higher education regulatory bodies.

Speaking at the launch, stakeholders emphasized that the underrepresentation of women in senior academic and administrative roles is not due to a lack of capacity, but rather a reflection of structural inequities.

“This research is a critical step toward creating an equitable academic environment," a representative noted. "We cannot talk about national development when a significant portion of our intellectual community is systematically sidelined. The findings will be used to hold institutions accountable and push for enforceable gender policies.”

The research project will cut across various geopolitical zones to capture a diverse range of institutional experiences. Through this partnership, WARDC aims to foster a more inclusive academic ecosystem that protects female lecturers and researchers, ensures equal growth opportunities, and elevates more women into professorial and leadership positions across Nigeria.