Organising Rural Women for Socio-Economic Development and Self-Reliance in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects

Abstract

This paper focused on organising Rural Women for Socio-economic Development. It was set out to assess the role and impact of organisations and NGOs on rural women in Nigeria with particular reference to Edo-State. It also did a critical examination of the problems inherent in rural women’s participation in development.

Primary and Secondary data were used to carry out the set objectives. The paper examined and adopted the participatory development framework in its analysis. The research identified various income generating activities of rural women to include; agricultural produce, marketing of farm produce, crafts making and food processing. It was found that despite all the efforts women put in development, women’s capacities are not optimally utilised due to socio-cultural and political hindrances, such as access to land, loans, education and other outputs. Other hindrances are gender issues which lead to marginalisation and non-inclusion of women in the nation’s top decision-making positions. The paper concluded that organising women is an integral aspect of socio-economic advancement of any nation. It was stressed that women’s efforts would optimally be utilised for socio-economic development which will consequently lead to self-reliance, if they are empowered socially, culturally, politically and economically. It was recommended among other things; that government and government agencies should integrate more women into top policy making positions for their optimum capabilities to be utilised.