Addressing Gender Barriers in Technical Roles in Nigerian Water Utilities

Abstract

This study examines why women remain underrepresented in technical roles within Nigerian water utilities, in spite of ongoing gender equality efforts. While women play a central role in everyday water management, their contributions are rarely recognized as technical expertise within formal institutions. This research moves beyond explanations that focus only on access and instead examines how institutional systems shape women’s participation in technical roles. Using a mixed methods approach, data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) at Imo State Water and Sewerage Corporation and a survey of 90 respondents across six regions in Nigeria. The analysis combines thematic interpretation with descriptive statistics, guided by Feminist Institutionalism(FI), Feminist Political Ecology(FPE) and the employee lifecycle framework. The findings shows that gender barriers are not limited to entry but are reproduced across recruitment, retention, and career advancement. Women reported higher exposure of stereotypes, especially in technical roles. Key constraints identified from the research include gender stereotyping, family responsibilities, unsafe working conditions, limited access to childcare and career development opportunities. The study concludes that improving women’s participation requires more than increasing numbers, it calls for changes in workplace systems, institutional culture, and how technical roles is defined and valued within water utilities in Nigeria.