Despite the immense fish biodiversity of Nigeria, there is a still a wide gap between supply and demand of fish, thus leading to high prices of fish products which makes them unaffordable to the common man. Of recent, though women are becoming increasingly involved in aquacultural practices especially homestead culture of African catfish Clarias gariepinus, the sector (especially artisanal fisheries) is still male-dominated. The age-long traditional and marginal role of women as marketers and processors and financiers of fish need to change to direct fish producers for sustainable development in the sector. This paper highlights the factors affecting effective participation of women in direct fish production in Nigeria and calls for increased access to credits, inputs and land to potential women investors. Various constraints faced by women in fisheries livelihoods include restricted access to credit, inadequacy of education, dearth of infrastructural facilities, low participation in decision-making due to apathy for women in African setting, land tenure system, traditional beliefs and taboos, lack of access to information through extension services, poor cooperative society formations. The author emphasized the need for attitudinal changes in a patrilineal society like Nigeria by the men folks towards participation of women in the male-dominated profession like fisheries. Women should be regarded as equal partners in sustainable development of the fisheries sector. The author advocated culture fisheries for Nigerian women because of the less risky, lesslaborious and more environment-friendly nature of fish farming.