‎A new Gatefield study has called for family-focused policies, supportive workplace practices and community childcare initiatives to encourage Nigerian fathers to participate in child upbringing, amid economic pressures and cultural expectations.

The recommendation is contained in a study by Gatefield Opinion Lab, titled “The New Breadwinner Masculinity, Caregiving and Economic Prosperity in Nigeria”, signed by the Gatefield media officer, Mrs Margaret Aladeselu, on Friday in Abuja.

The report identified emotional presence, shared caregiving and family wellbeing as emerging priorities among Nigerian fathers, while highlighting economic hardship, workplace restrictions and traditional gender expectations as barriers to active fatherhood.

It revealed that emotional connection recorded 156 mentions, compared with 84 mentions for traditional financial provision, indicating a shift in how participating men perceived their family responsibilities.

According to the report, many Nigerian fathers increasingly value spending quality time with their children, providing emotional support and sharing domestic responsibilities beyond their traditional role as breadwinners in their households.

It, however, noted that financial difficulties often affected men’s confidence and relationships, particularly when they were unable to meet household expectations and provide adequately for their families and dependants at home.

A male business leader quoted in the study said inability to provide financially sometimes made him uncomfortable and socially withdrawn, affecting his willingness to interact with others around him.

“Anytime I’m not able to provide, I’m uncomfortable, I don’t even want to be around anybody,” he said.

The report also highlighted the need to communicate fatherhood and gender equality in ways that encouraged men’s participation, rather than reinforce resistance among men who feel challenged by such public messages.

It said message testing showed that confrontational expressions associated with gender advocacy generated defensiveness among some men, while communication centred on family prosperity, household peace and shared responsibility received stronger acceptance.

A religious leader quoted in the report said men were more likely to embrace shared caregiving when they understood its benefits to their families and children’s overall wellbeing and development.

“The way men function is you have to sell a vision to them. If they see that this is about making your family thrive and flourish, I think they will buy into it more,” he said.

The study further identified workplace policies and access to childcare as important factors influencing fathers’ ability to participate meaningfully in family responsibilities and support their children’s healthy development in their homes.

It noted that public sector workers were entitled to 14 days of paid paternity leave, but many private sector and informal workers lost income when taking time to care for children.

According to the report, inadequate parental leave and affordable childcare particularly affected low-income families, making it difficult for fathers and mothers to share caregiving responsibilities and balance work with family life.

It observed that some middle-class households relied on domestic workers to manage family responsibilities, while working-class families often lacked resources to adopt similar arrangements or access affordable childcare services locally.

The report recommended expanding paid paternity leave beyond the public sector to cover private sector workers, alongside establishing community childcare facilities for informal workers and underserved households across Nigeria.

It also called for stronger engagement with religious and traditional leaders to promote active fatherhood, financial transparency and mutual respect within families, while challenging restrictive expectations about men’s roles in society.

The study said faith-based institutions could help redefine masculinity and leadership by encouraging men to demonstrate responsibility through emotional presence, compassion and shared domestic duties within households and local communities nationwide.

It further recommended community childcare initiatives and informal crèche networks to support working-class families unable to afford domestic assistance or private childcare arrangements, particularly in underserved communities across Nigeria.

The report emphasised that advocacy promoting active fatherhood should prioritise children’s development, household stability and shared economic resilience rather than confrontational messaging that could alienate potential male allies in the process.

It added that recognising caregiving as a shared family responsibility would help reduce emotional and economic pressures associated with traditional breadwinner expectations and promote healthier relationships within Nigerian families and communities.

Gatefield, a public strategy and media group, said it promoted social change through advocacy, storytelling and strategic communications, including efforts to address the pressures on fathers as breadwinners and gender inequality.‎(NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

‎