THE SILENT AND OPPRESSED MILLIONS AND NIGERIANS' QUEST FOR SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT: THE RURAL WOMEN IN FOCUS

Rural women constitute a significant proportion of Nigeria’s population and play a critical role in agriculture, household sustenance, and community development. Despite their immense contributions, they remain largely marginalized, silenced, and excluded from key socio-economic and political processes that drive sustainable development. This Review paper examines the persistent structural, cultural, and institutional barriers that perpetuate the oppression of rural women in Nigeria and undermine the nation’s quest for sustainable development. Anchored on gender inequality and development theories, the research explores issues such as limited access to education, healthcare, credit facilities, land ownership, and decision-making platforms. The study explains the lived experiences of rural women and assess the extent to which existing development policies and programs address their needs. Review findings are expected to reveal that the continued marginalization of rural women constrains human capital development, deepens rural poverty, and hinders sustainable national development. The study underscores the necessity of gender-responsive policies, inclusive governance, and social work interventions aimed at empowering rural women as active agents of sustainable development in Nigeria.