Nigeria” indicates that majority of the 43 per cent of women cited as economically inactive make their living through private businesses. Conclusion The Nigerian Government recognizes the pertinence of achieving gender equality and has over the years, rolled out policies to achieve this goal. Salient impediments in achieving gender equality and particularly during the reporting period, include the pervasive negative socio cultural beliefs and practices that shape choices and decision in different spheres of life, and pushing to obscurity some of the draft bills geared at redressing the challenges. Gender Roles and Stereotypes Key Efforts to Eliminate Gender Roles and Stereotypes for Girls and Women Awareness creation on gender issues has been one of the major measures put in place to address gender stereotypes that impede the progress of women and girls in the country. Much of the gains recorded since 2006 can be attributed to the ensuing measures highlighted below: The National Coalition on Affirmative Action has promoted and ensured the enactment of Gender and Equal Opportunity Law (derived from CEDAW) in Ekiti, Imo and Kogi States. This law among others provides that every “organ, agency of government, public or private institution, community, educational institutions modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices, customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of inferiority or superiority of either of the sexes, or stereotyped roles for men and women.”1 (Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, 2010). The Law protects women’s inheritance rights, land ownership rights, political participation and economic opportunities. Meanwhile advocacy and lobbying has been intensified to have the Bill passed at the National Assembly. Barriers are constantly being dismantled thereby allowing women and girls to participate in some vocational jobs that have for a long time been considered the preserve of men and boys. For instance girls are now being trained in vulcanizing (vehicle tire repair), wheel alignment. Through the project women are trained to drive taxies and empowered with vehicles to run transport businesses. Government and NGOs are increasingly working in collaboration with Faith Based Organizations and traditional authorities to conduct awareness programmes. These programmes have ensured the gradual but steady dislodgement of the culture of male superiority. The increasing numbers of female clerics in both Christian and Muslim denominations attest to this. Furthermore in Igbo land, there is a rise in female chiefs with not less than 10 women in Iyom category. The Iyom Chieftaincy is the highest traditional title for a woman among a large segment of Igbo communities. This titled leadership position almost went extinct but its resurgence in the past five years attests to the progress 155