Career prospects of undergraduate female students in the Nigeria Police Force

The percentage of women serving in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is still small despite efforts to reduce the gender gap. Against this background, this study examined undergraduate female final-year students’ career prospects in the NPF. Expectancy theory was utilised as a theoretical framework. Data were generated through the use of questionnaires and in-depth interviews with 310 female final-year students at two federal universities who were selected through a multistage sampling technique. Although respondents were familiar with police duties, the majority (72%) were unwilling to join the NPF. Also, a connection exists between perceived gender roles and respondents’ future career prospects in the NPF (χ2 = 24.411; P= 0.000066). The NPF should exert more effort towards breaking the masculine-occupation overtone associated with policing