Gender, Religion, and Development: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis of Christian and Islamic Gender Frameworks in Nigeria

Religion is the dominant cultural framework through which gender norms are articulated, contested, and transmitted in Nigeria, yet development policy and gender equality programming often treat religion as an obstacle to gender justice rather than a terrain of feminist possibility. This study theorises the relationship between religion, gender, and development in Nigeria, examining both Christian and Islamic frameworks across all six geopolitical zones. A comparative constructivist paradigm underpins a multi-method design employing 70 in-depth interviews with religious leaders, women faith practitioners, and development actors, documentary analysis of religious gender discourse, and survey data from 280 women on religion's influence on their gender rights experiences. Feminist religious studies, decolonial development theory, and comparative religion methodology guided analysis. Findings demonstrate significant internal diversity within both Christian and Islamic traditions in Nigeria regarding gender, with progressive and conservative tendencies co-existing within each faith community. The study challenges secularist development assumptions by demonstrating that religious frameworks are the most effective channels for reaching women in all zones with gender equality messages. An original Gender and Religion in Development (GRiD) framework is developed that provides a principled approach to engaging religious actors in gender equality programming without reinforcing patriarchal interpretations. Keywords: gender, religion, development, Nigeria, feminist theology