Demographic Dynamics, Gender Dividends and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals: Evidence from Nigeria

Olanrewaju Olaniyan, University of Ibadan
Noah Olasehinde, University of Ibadan
Osaretin Adonri, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Andat Dasogot, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa with a population of 201 million in 2019 and the seventh most populated country in the world. Although the country is working towards achieving the demographic dividends, the gender perspectives of the dividend has not been comprehensively explored. This paper uses demographic dynamics to analyse the structure of gender equity in labour market participation and its attendant implications for gender dividends. The methodological approach is the gender differentiated support ratio as defined by National Transfer Accounts (NTA) method. Gender dividend is viewed as a component of broader demographic dividend. The paper reveals that despite the approximately 50-50% male-female composition of Nigerian population, female contributes significantly less to labour earnings, reflecting low gender dividend and a major limiting factor to harnessing the demographic dividend. The paper therefore suggests that investments in human capital of women and girls will have multiple beneficial effects.