Caring for an elderly relative, especially in African societies, is usually a task that
is reserved for females. This article includes an analysis of the effect of gender in
care-giving. Data was collected, using questionnaire and interviews, from 530 adult
(40 + years, mostly well-educated) respondents, residing in Nsukka town, Nigeria,
who had at least one parent alive. Comparisons were made between the responses
of the male and female adult children. The findings showed that adult daughters had
more positive general perceptions of care-giving than adult sons and were less likely
to see a personal care-giving role as a burden. To some extent the findings can be
interpreted as reflecting deep-seated gender differences which have their origins
in traditional cultural attitudes. But when considered more deeply, in the context of
economic needs and social changes in Nigeria, and the limited support available for a
growing population of older people, the findings raise questions about how likely it is
that such differences will change and whether they can be affected by lifelong learning
provision. The article concludes that developments in education and learning relating
to understanding ageing at school-level and preparing for it in later middle age, as well
as new forms of learning in later life, are important in the Nigerian context.