Biblical Females as Role Models for the Emancipation of Women from Cultural Barriers for Resourceful Participation in Political Governance in Nigeria

Abstract

Globally, women have long been at the forefront of political movements and leadership initiatives due to both their numerical strength and their unique dispositions toward community welfare. Despite this enduring involvement, they continue to face multifaceted marginalization arising from entrenched religious, cultural, biological, and cognitive stereotypes. Nigerian society, in particular, is significantly shaped by cultural practices and patriarchal structures that have historically resisted women’s liberation and empowerment. Women, who constitute nearly half of the population, contribute indispensably as caregivers, economic producers, community leaders, and political activists, yet they remain constrained by systemic barriers that exclude them from governance. This study contends that a feminist re-reading of the Bible—drawing from feminist hermeneutics, African womanism, postcolonial feminism, and womanist theology—uncovers vital accounts of women who exercised leadership, often against the grain of patriarchal restrictions. Female biblical figures such as Deborah, Esther, Priscilla, and the daughters of Zelophehad serve as compelling exemplars who transcended cultural boundaries to influence governance and society. However, their significance has often been diminished or obscured due to androcentric interpretations of scripture. Adopting a historical-descriptive methodology, supported by textual and contextual analysis, this paper investigates cultural impediments to Nigerian women’s political engagement—such as early girl-child marriage, denial of inheritance, lack of education, and limited economic resources—while highlighting biblical precedents of female leadership. The study ultimately proposes practical recommendations, including curriculum reform to integrate feminist theology, policy frameworks that promote gender equity, and empowerment initiatives that equip women for governance. By drawing parallels between biblical heroines and contemporary Nigerian women, the paper advances the argument that overcoming cultural barriers is both possible and essential for inclusive national development.