Impact of Women Participation in Governance on Administration: A Study of Ethiope East and West Local Government of Delta State

Abstract

This study examined the impact of women’s participation in governance on administration in Ethiope East and West Local Government Areas of Delta State between 2015 and 2024. Specifically, it assessed how women’s involvement influences governance effectiveness, policy formulation and implementation, and local development. A cross-sectional research design was adopted, and the study was guided by three hypotheses and adopted a quantitative research design. The study was anchored on the gender and development (GAD) theory as its theoretical framework. The theory provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the impact of women’s participation in governance on administrative processes in Local Government Areas. A total of 400 copies of questionnaire were distributed, out of which 361 valid responses were analyzed. Linear and multiple regression analyses were employed to test the hypotheses with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23. The findings revealed that women’s participation in governance has a positive and statistically significant effect on governance effectiveness, policy outcomes, and local development. These results suggest that inclusive governance structures that integrate women not only improve responsiveness and transparency but also enhance service delivery and policy relevance at the grassroots level. The study affirmed that women bring participatory leadership styles that enrich stakeholder engagement and support policies that prioritize education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The study concluded that when women occupy leadership roles, development outcomes in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and community empowerment improve. It becomes imperative for policymakers, development partners, civil society organizations, and traditional institutions to take proactive steps in dismantling the barriers to women's participation in local governance. Based on the findings, the study recommended, among others, that local government authorities in Ethiope East and West Local Government Areas of Delta State should integrate more women into governance frameworks by creating inclusive leadership structures that reflect gender diversity.