Title: Women Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation Programmes of Rural Women in Enugu State, Nigeria
Abstract: This research study focused on women empowerment and poverty alleviation programmes of rural women in Enugu State, Nigeria. Four research questions guided the study. Descriptive survey research design was used in the study. The population of the study comprised of 411 women made up all the registered women of Women Cooperative Societies in Igbo-Etiti and Nsukka local government areas of Enugu State, Nigeria. Instrument “titled Women Empowerment and Poverty Alleviation Questionnaire (WEPAQ)” was developed by the researchers to collect data for the study. The research questions were analyzed using mean and Standard Deviation. Overall, the results among others showed that rural women only engaged in the production soya milk powder and detergent as poverty alleviation programme and do not have access or engage in bead making such ear rings, necklaces, hand bags, palm oil processing and others. Women empowerment can help in poverty reduction of rural women to a great extent. Factors that militate against women empowerment in rural areas include; gender disparity, illiteracy, some cultural belief such as men being superior to women, societal cultural activities and others. Equally, strategies that can enhance the empowerment of women for poverty reduction in rural areas include; monitoring and assessment of the activities of poverty alleviation programmes, investing in health of rural women, educating rural women, modification of societal cultural activities that is targeted against women folk, establishing skill acquisition centers and markets, adequate loan for the establishment of farming firms and others. Based on the findings of the study, the researchers recommends among others that Government should establish functioning palm oil extraction and cassava processing units as means to empower the rural women. Equally, Government should create the culture of industrial production and management in rural areas as a strategy to empower the rural women and ensure that fund meant for women empowerment and poverty alleviation programmes are properly utilized.
Publication Year: 2016
Publication Date: 2016-08-05
Language: en
Type: article
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