Gender Dynamics in Islamic Leadership Positions Within Muslim Organisations in Kwara State

This study investigates gender dynamics in leadership positions within Muslim community organisations in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Questions about women's roles in Islamic institutional leadership have gained increased attention in Nigerian Muslim communities, where traditional interpretations of gender roles often intersect with contemporary advocacy for inclusion. The study employs a descriptive survey design with questionnaires and interviews administered to 200 members and 20 executive officers of fifteen Muslim organisations in Ilorin, Offa, and Lafiagi. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings reveal that women hold formal leadership positions in less than 25% of the sampled organisations, and that where women lead, their roles are predominantly in welfare and education committees rather than decision-making bodies. Respondents cited religious textual interpretations, cultural norms, and institutional inertia as the main barriers to female leadership. The study recommends a reassessment of religious interpretations to distinguish Quranic directives from cultural practices, the development of women's leadership capacity-building programmes within Muslim organisations, and greater advocacy for gender-inclusive governance frameworks in Islamic civil society. These findings contribute to the literature on gender, religion, and leadership in Nigerian Muslim communities. Keywords: gender dynamics, Islamic leadership, Muslim organisations, Kwara State, women in Islam.