Abstract

Gender-induced discrimination results in the disadvantaging of women and girls in socio-economic activities mostly available to men and boys. Of particular note is access to, and achievements in, education and employment. This conceptual article discusses some of the challenges and prospects of gender-mainstreaming under the 2004 ECOWAS gender policy. In this article, I contend that gender mainstreaming needs be commenced at the grass roots by discouraging and eliminating the social construction that engenders gender discrimination. To that effect, the article concludes that given the peculiar traditions and values of the member nations, the prospects of a gender mainstreamed ECOWAS lie in the stakeholders devising and implementing an Africa-centric agenda, backed up with infrastructural, economic (macro and micro) development and workable social welfare policies and practice.