Gender and Career Advancement Opportunities for Female Administrative Professionals in Jigawa State Public Service

This study examines the influence of gender on career advancement opportunities for female administrative professionals in the Jigawa State Public Service, within Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone. Despite constitutional provisions for gender equality, female administrative workers in many Nigerian state governments continue to face structural and cultural barriers to career progression, including limited access to training, gender-stereotyped role assignments, and institutional bias in promotion processes. Using a descriptive survey design, the study targets female administrative officers, human resource managers, and civil service commissioners in Jigawa State. Data are collected through structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. The Glass Ceiling Theory and the Gender and Development Framework provide the theoretical basis, with literature from 2020 to 2024 on women in public administration in Nigeria informing the analysis. Dimensions investigated include promotion equity, access to professional development programmes, supervisory support, and organisational gender policy implementation. Recommendations are directed at the Jigawa State Head of Service and the National Gender Policy implementation committee. Keywords: gender, career advancement, female professionals, public service, Jigawa State