VEJOH - VERITAS JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES

Relegation of Nigerian women to subordinate positions is one of the major factors that limit their self-actualisation and meaningful participation in the trend of development. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has helped however them to overcome the limitation by presenting them with wider opportunities for self-development and participation in national development. Previous studies on Maryam Bobi’s Bongel have examined it from the angle of women’s victimisation but women’s assertiveness for their emancipation is left out. This study examines the role of Nigerian women in gaining freedom from gender-induced oppression through the chances made available to them by technological advancement in the text. Focu-feminism is used as a theoretical framework. The text is subjected to a qualitative literary analysis. Bongel is chosen for this study because it depicts victimisation against women as well as the women’s emancipatory effort. This study shows that every victimised female character in the text devises and employs a different strategy she considers most appropriate in overcoming her unique oppressive situation. This study contributes to the on-going awareness on bridging the gender gap in Nigeria. It concludes that resorting to inward capabilities is the most veritable strategy for the Nigerian woman’s empowerment, self-actualisation, and her necessary contributory roles to national development.

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