Harnessing the Socio-economic Development Potentials of Rural Nigeria: Role of Rural Women’s Associations
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Date
2021
Authors
Eshiet I.
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College of Business and Social Sciences, Crawford University
Abstract
Rural Nigeria in which 50 per cent of Nigerian population resides is blessed with abundant human and material resources. However, there has been no conscientious effort over the years by successive governments to transform these resources into productive forces that would engender socio-economic development of the rural areas. This study assesses the potential role of women, through the auspices of their associations to harness the abundant material and human resources in the rural areas for rural transformation, using secondary sources. The study underpins its arguments on the participatory development approach which emphasizes the need for beneficiaries of development to be active participants in the development process. Findings of the study reveal that women’s associations are engaged in diverse socio-economic activities in their communities. However, members’ optimum capabilities are not utilized in the productive process due to gender-based socio-cultural constraints such as disinheritance, exclusion from decision-making, gender division of labour, etc. Thereby, women’s contributions to agriculture and rural enterprises are limited. However, if these constraints are removed, women’s associations could serve as catalysts to unlock the largely untapped socio-economic development potentials of rural Nigeria. In view of this, the study recommends that associations’ productive capabilities should be enhanced through provision of an enabling environment. Therefore, policy actions aim at maximising associations’ socio-economic activities such as creation of rural industrial parks, access to inheritance and inclusion of women in local decision-making bodies should be implemented by government at the various levels.
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Citation
Eshiet, I. (2021). Harnessing the Socio-economic Development Potentials of Rural Nigeria: Role of Rural Women’s Associations. Crawford Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (CJMR). 2(2):43-52. Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State