Legal Analysis of Gender Disparities in Engineering: Perspectives from Engineering Law and Reform Pathways

Gender inequality in the engineering profession remains pervasive, with Nigeria exemplifying entrenched disparities despite global and domestic equality frameworks. Women account for less than 12 per cent of registered engineers in Nigeria, reflecting a significant underrepresentation that persists notwithstanding constitutional guarantees, statutory prohibitions on discrimination, and ratified international instruments such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). This paper interrogates the persistence of inequality through feminist legal theory and intersectional analysis, situating engineering law at the intersection of gender justice and environmental governance. It combines doctrinal analysis with empirical material, including case studies, policy reviews, and interviews, to reveal the misalignment between formal norms and substantive outcomes. Findings demonstrate that weak enforcement, regulatory inertia, and cultural norms perpetuate occupational segregation, while professional licensing frameworks operate in gender-neutral but exclusionary ways. Comparative insights from South Africa, Norway, and Canada demonstrate that robust enforcement of equality norms, quota systems, and gender-responsive regulatory measures can redress systemic exclusion. The paper proposes a multi-level reform strategy encompassing legislative reform, stronger oversight, institutional capacity-building, and integration of gender equity into environmental and engineering regulation. By linking Nigeria’s environmental jurisprudence with engineering governance, this study advances both scholarly discourse and practical frameworks for dismantling structural barriers and promoting inclusive development.