PROSPECT AND CHALLENGES OF PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN POLITICS A CASE STUDY OF IKEJA LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAGOS STATE.

Woman’s involvement in politics is very important for building a fair and equal society. However, in Nigeria, and especially in Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State. Many women still face serious challenges that stop them from full taking part in politics. This study explored both the opportunities and the difficulties that women face when trying to get involved in the political activities in Ikeja. The study used a descriptive research design. A total of 200 women focused on area such as political party support, education, family support, cultural beliefs, financial challenges, and training programs that help women. The responses were analyzed using simple statistics like percentages and frequency counts. The findings showed that there are some good chances for women to join politics, especially through education, leadership training and family encouragement. However, many problems still stand in the way. These include cultural and traditional beliefs that say politics is mainly for men, lack of money to run campaigns, fear of violence, and little support support from political parties. Some women also face pressure from family duties and social expectations that discourage them from taking up political roles. Key Words: women in politics, political participation, gender equality, local government, social problems empowerment.