Barriers to Women’s Leadership in Project Management in Nigerian Engineering Firms in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Gender disparities in project management leadership within engineering firms persist despite growing recognition of the value of gender diversity in professional practice. This study examines barriers to women's leadership in project management in engineering firms in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey will recruit 140 female and male project managers, HR directors, and senior engineers from 20 registered engineering firms. A structured questionnaire adapted from the Women in Project Management Barriers Scale will assess organizational, cultural, and systemic barriers including glass ceiling effects, stereotyping, networking exclusion, and mentorship gaps. Regression analysis will identify the most significant barriers, and qualitative vignettes from 10 in-depth interviews will contextualize findings. Evidence from Nigerian engineering professional bodies shows that women constitute under 15 percent of registered project managers, with barriers rooted in both societal gender norms and organizational practices. Findings will support diversity policy development for engineering firms and professional bodies in Rivers State. Keywords: women in project management, gender barriers, engineering firms, Port Harcourt, diversity