The Nigerian society is one that have gratified men dominance in all phase. This is further helped by the fact that most traditions relegates women to lesser beings thus, a restriction to explore their full potential. This cry-able fate did not just hinder the woman-fold from making exploits, but by extension has robbed the world of most of what the female gender has to offer. These all are true owing to the patriarchal society we live in.

Patriarchy originally defined puts regards to men (father) as the head of the family but this concept have been further stretchered into other sphere of life thus putting the men as the head in all cases. This ideology now means that women will have to fight much more than their male counterpart in order to be eligible for the same leadership position; sometimes requiring them to go against their standards.

Patriarchy is one of the major reason for the cry for gender equality as some level of marginalization befall women in their place of work, political sphere, business, societal recognition and most commonly, the family. Imagine the most basic ground for the formation of the society giving preference to the male child and in effect planting in the girl child the sense of defeat relative to a man as well as low self-worth and esteem. In some cases, this leads to hatred for the male gender thus an unhealthy relationship, another source of violence in families as well as in the society.

Looking majorly at the potentials and capabilities of individuals when leadership is spoken of, will go a long way in changing the patriarchal mindset.

The fact that ‘what a man can do, a woman can do and even better’ can be seen, take a look at one woman whom has time and again proven this fact, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala being the first female minister for finance under the Goodluck Jonathan led administration and currently Director general of World Trade. On the business front, we can see the like of Mrs. Folorunshuno Alakija, the Vice-Chairman of FAMFA Oil Ltd and Managing Director of Rose of Sharon Group whom in 2015 was ranked the second most powerful woman in Africa behind Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. Politically, Obiangeli Ezekwesili and Princess Stella Oduah are examples of women who have kept relevance in politics as they climbed the ladder of leadership. The list go on and on in different spheres of life as women are now carving a niche for themselves irrespective of what the society offers even against incredible odds.

Though it is important for women to know their place, it sure is not as second fiddle, true they ought to respect the man folks but society should not see it as opportunity to belittle them.

From Biblical narrative, we come to find out that it goes that the creation  of a woman was out of necessity that a man needs a helper “comparable” to him thus in relegating a woman to a help, the need to take note that it is of a magnitude comparable to the work of a man. It does not go without saying that “behind every successful man is a woman” so also it is for every unsuccessful man. This highlight the vast power in a woman which patriarchy has helped to keep untapped. It also shows the need for the voice of the woman to be heard and hearkened to at least for the benefit of doubt and truly we can know if when women are in leadership they can do what men can do and even better.