The Role of Female Christian Educators in Fostering Gender Equality For Sustainable Development In Nigeria

Abstract

Female Christian Educators play a pivotal role in sustainable development by bridging the gap between moral/ethical formation and social responsibility, serving as agents of transformation within their communities. They contribute to sustainable development by fostering quality education, promoting gender equality, nurturing environmental stewardship, and advocating for social justice and peace building. The aim of this paper is to analyse the role of Christian Educators in fostering gender equality for sustainable development in Nigeria and to examine various contributions of female Christian Educators. This paper adopts a multidisciplinary approach to explore the interconnection between Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 5 (Quality Education and Gender Equality Respectively) in Nigeria, focusing on how Gender Equality influence development outcomes. The finding was that women in contemporary times are not given equal rights like their male counterpart in political, social, religious, and some other spheres of life. On this note, the role of Female Christian Educators in ensuring Sustainable Development Goal 5 cannot be overemphasized as they serve as catalyst for change in both religious and secular spheres using their influence to advocate for improved living conditions and social reforms. The paper concluded that, through their holistic approach, female Christian Educators merge spiritual, social and economic empowerment, driving sustainable development at the individual, community, and national levels. Consequently, the study recommends, amongst others, that women should be given equal rights with their male counterpart in every sphere of life particularly in Nigeria and in other parts of the world so as to foster sustainable development.