TVET Inclusiveness as Pathway to Economic Independence for Women Living in Nigeria's Informal Settlements

Abstract

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is viewed globally as a poverty alleviation strategy because of its potential to create work. Work leads to income, and income drives economic development. This study seeks to investigate women's inclusion in TVET and explores the role of TVET in elevating economic empowerment and sustainability for women residing in informal settlements. The study employed an extensive literature review of related peer-reviewed articles, policy documents on TVET, Social Development Goals (SDGs) and other related reports. This was done through a wide range of searches from databases like Google Scholar and institutional repositories to provide a robust foundation for understanding barriers and opportunities in TVET. Findings revealed that there are deeply entrenched socio-cultural norms that prioritise male education and employment over that of females, many women lack access to financial resources to cover their tuition, there is a lack of comprehensive data on women living in informal settlements, inadequate basic infrastructure such as schools and training centres, and inadequate information dissemination about TVET programs within the communities leading to low enrolment rates. Therefore, it was recommended that Private Sector Partnerships should be encouraged to provide funding support through scholarships or stipends for women, policy interventions mandating gender quotas in TVET programs, and community engagements through collaborations with local leaders to address cultural barriers to women’s education will improve access to the training and reduce disparities in the enrolment, among others. additionally, further research focusing specifically on women living in informal settlements could provide valuable insights for designing targeted policy interventions that would promote inclusivity, equity, and empowerment for sustainable development.