2.2 The concept of development

It is quite evident that several scholars have defined development from different perspectives. There is no generally accepted definition of development because it means several things to many people depending on the scholar/people's aims, interests, contexts, and perspectives [[15]]. Whereas some see it as an increase or positive shift in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), others see it as social and cultural transformation [[34]].

In all of the above definitions, a form of the societal shift was captured, but worthy of note is that a one-sided shift may not necessarily be sufficient to explain the phenomenon. A shift that does not improve a people's standard of living, whether modern or advanced, cannot be seen as development. Development is understood as a multi-dimensional involving re-orientation and re-organization of social systems and institutions in which social structures become development compliant and enabling [[15]]. That is to say, the re-organization and re-orientation are enabling and improving people's self-esteem within the different social institutions, and the essential needs for the livelihood of individuals are satisfied. It should be noted that this re-orientation and re-organization is carried out jointly by actors (individuals in society) for actors [[34]]. Therefore, this paper sees development as a positive shift that improves people's way of seeing themselves and seeing things and increasing their living standards, and this is by the joint efforts of actors in society.

2.3 Relationship between gender and development

As noted by [[2]] in his work, he pointed out that without objective gender equality, no society can develop irrespective of the prevailing justice and political systems as no two-engine plane can fly with one engine; therefore, for the attainment of sustainable development by any society, it is not only imperative but sacrosanct to pursue gender equality. Achieving gender equality is a crucial part of the development plan that aims to enable individuals, both men, and women, to reduce their hardship (in all fathomable forms) and improve living [[1]]. The importance of women's role in national and international development is gaining global attention daily, associated explicitly with the relationship between sustainable development and gender equity [[2], [16]]. However, this paper attempts to put forward the fact that equality is not necessarily when men and women begin to play the same role but when the functions of each gender, especially those of the female folk (which seem to be unrecognized), are well recognized and equally appreciated as their male counterpart.