Nigerian fathers now talk more about being present than about providing, study finds
Gatefield's research also found that money pressure and work rules stand in the way, and that informal workers often lose pay when they take time off.
Lagos — Nigerian men increasingly see emotional presence and hands-on childcare as more important than their traditional role as providers, according to a qualitative study from Gatefield's Opinion Lab.
In "The New Breadwinner: Masculinity, Caregiving and Economic Prosperity in Nigeria", participants mentioned emotional connection 156 times, nearly twice the 84 mentions of financial provision.
What still gets in the way
Economic pressure, workplace rules and cultural expectations limit how far men can act on this, the study says. Men who define themselves mainly by what they earn often feel shame and withdraw when money is short, which the authors call "provider shame".
Public sector workers are entitled to 14 days of paid paternity leave. But men in the informal sector, about 80% of the workforce, often lose income when they take time off to care for children.
The study also found that how the subject is raised matters: confrontational, rights-focused language made participants more defensive.
Source: Premium Times, November 2026.
