THE IMPACT OF WOMEN IN GROWTH AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE (A STUDY OF IDEMILI SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA)

Abstract

The aim of this research is to examine if actually rural association move any impact in development of the communities in Idemili south local government area. People always have the feelings that women will not make positive impact hence women are delegated to the background with record of their contributions to development. Following from the study using idemili south rural areas as a case study, it was noted that women were not incorporated in the development agenda, because of gender inequality e.g women are not allow to contribute their opinion in the society. The researcher opined that women should be given opportunity to discharge their potentials and skills in the development agenda, because the chairman of Idemili local government area was headed by Dr. Mrs Evlyne Okpara and so many other who have contributed immensely to the National Development of the economy of Nigeria. The work suggested that government should acknowledge women association since they can sacrifice even their last report towards development of the country.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1.    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

According to Lele (1957:10) rural development of the living standard of the people of low income population residing in rural areas and making the process of their development self-sustaining. The above definition of rural development point to common fact that rural development has to do with improving the quality of life of rural people. It is the process of empowering the rural people by harnessing and mobilizing their human and material resources.

Diejenoah, (1993:2) sees it as a process of increasing not only the level of per capital in the rural population, but also their standard of living depending on such factors as food and nutrition, health education, housing recreation and security. This is for the better and providing their socio-economic needs ranging from employment, qualitative health care, improved nutrition, adequate and comfortable accommodation, good quality education and security.

Moreso, as Onyiruka, (1989:2) would opine, it is changes in the social and economic structures, institutions, relationship and processes in the context of rural population.

Again, Mabogunje (1980:5) state that it is a broadened reorganization and mobilization of rural masses so as to enhanced the changes consequent upon this – and it also necessitates the involvement of the people in the political decision making process.

According to Eze, (1997:3) The role of women in rural development is to bring upward growth rate of positive improvement or transformation in the life pattern of inhabitants and production environment women brings introduction of necessary plan stragegies and modern facilities to achieve the tastes in rural communities transformation proves.

They aim at increasing production and raise productivity among members of the community. It is based on the premise that improvement in productivity among members of the community.

It is based on the premise that improvement in productivity enhance food supplies and nutrition of rural inhabitants as well as their overall contribution to national economy.

The role or women in national development cannot be overemphasized, they played vital role in the areas of health, education, planned settlement, employment opportunities, elimination of poverty, effective communication facilities and infrastructural development.

Since it is necessary to take a particular community or areas as a case study of the research, we consider it wise to briefly discuss the his of Idemili South local government which serves as a case study of the research.

Idemili south is found in Anambra state, it is a rural area which is made up of six communities; Akwukwuato, Akwa-etiti, Ojoto, Nnobi and Nnakwa as a rural, the people depend much of traditional practices in pursuit of their well being because of its’ traditional out look women in the community contributed towards the development of the community  as well as related to house hold or complete with men folk, although women in community to organize meetings or operate as a theft society.

However, the introduction of the better life programme for rural women 1987 making a turning point in the history of Idemili south as it afforded the women in community ample opportunity to make their mark in the development process.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

For the decades women have been considered as inferior or weaker sex to men. This renders them into psychological trauma of not working up to their status.

But currently it is evidence that what man can do women can do it better. However this project work shall be addressing the following problems;

• The role of women association has been under played by their men folk. This did not make the women to withdraw their contribution to the development of Idemili south.
• High level of illiteracy among the women folk; the women especially some of the leaders are not literate enough to handle the women association.
• Financial mismanagement by the leaders. The leaders of the women association mismanage the available financial resources by making it insufficient for the project.
• Weak financial base: Rural women suffer from inadequate financial sources because majority of these women are fully house wives, petty traders who may be willing to contribute but have poor source of finance.
• Problem of corruption: The leaders of the women suffer from corruption, they often divert public funds into their private bank account.
• Gender inequality: The men often discriminate against the women, thereby calling them weaker sex, which compound problems to them. By virtue of psychology women are the givers.

1.3     PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

There is always a motivating factor in every research. The aim of the research is as follows;

• To give advice with respect to areas of conflict to sabotage progress.
• To serve as an inspiration to the association in the community towards development.
• To highlight the importance of rural women in this present age with regard to socio-economic and political change.
• To quit the wrong notion that women are weaker vessels and that their role as women ends in them.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

*        What are the problems militating against the proper development of Idemili south community?

*        What is the level of government interference in the activities of women in Idemili south local government areas?

*        What source in Idemili south income do women organization in Idemili south local government area have in developing area?

*        How many development project have the women expected in your community?

*        What are the importance of rural women in this our past age?

*        The notion that women are weaker vessels and it have any effect on development of the community?

*        Did women in Idemili south noted for only food production in present areas?

*        Did women in Idemili  south noted for only food production in present areas?

*        Are women so relevant in the development of rural areas, especially in Idemili south local government area?

1.5     SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY

The significant of this study lies in the fact that it will help a lot of people to appreciate the role of women in rural development.

1. The study will assist the women association to know the importance of community and national development.
2. It will help out the youth, the general public and spirited individuals to gain more knowledge.
3. It serves as a ground work for other researchers who may wish to make some inquiry into the role of women in rural area development.
4. It can serve as an instrument to mobilize other women in other area as to come together and embark on self help project.
5. It will help young girls to know type of organization they can identify within Idemili south rural area.
6. The study can be of assistance to research institutions who wish to carryout research on activities and contributions of women group of the society.

1.6     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study is the impact of women in growth and rural development in Anambra  state. A case study of Idemili south local government area, it is made up of six communities and assumed that 50 persons are selected from the each community so 300 questionnaires are distributed.

1.7     LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The researcher encountered the following problems;

In the course of writing and carrying out this project work, the research encountered many difficulties; some errors in the results of the research and from external sources of data collection. These are factors  standing as constraints thereby limiting the effect of the research result.

Among these are, time finance , scope and use of wrong statistics in data analysis, due to time limit, the research work is a time consuming one. A lot of time is taken to observe the subjects.

Most  times the behaviour of the staff changes even when they are aware that they are being observed by the researcher, this is by taking their behavior. The researcher also observed that these senior staff some time give true and false information in order to cover their branches.

At sometime the research work lasted over two months due to large scope of area of the study.

1.8     DEFINITION OF TERMS

For clarity and effective understanding of the research presentation, the researcher defines some basic concept in his research.

1. Women: Women can be defined as female human beings.
2. Rural areas: Rural areas is part of the society that are still primitive state, it is relatively more natural than artificial.

• Rural development: Rural development is used to denote the actions and initiatives taken to improve standard of living in non urban neighborhood, country side and remote villages

1. Growth: Growth is an increase in the size, amount or degree of something.
2. Development: Development is multi-dimensional process. It means change, growth, socialization, transformation and improving the standard of living.
3. Women empowerment: Women empowerment is the breaking of personal limitation and it is the process by which women achieve increased in control over public decision making.

Again human right that lie at the improvement of self decision regarding to education, participation, mobility, economic independent, public speaking awareness and exercise of right, political participation and many more factors. Because majority of these women are fully house wives, petty traders, who may be living to contribute but have poor source of finance.

Again, high cost of providing infrastructure and welfare service at the same time, they are over burdened with many functions, which they are ill-equipped to perform.

1.9     Organization of the Study.

The first chapter of this study will focus on introduction with several sub-heading under this chapter like; Background to the study, statement of the problem, research questions, purpose of the study, research  propositions, significance of the study, scope of the study, methods of data collection, method of data analysis, limitations of the study, definitions of term. The second chapter focuses on literature review and theoretical framework. The third chapter will focus on the research methodology. The fourth chapter will focus on data presentation and analysis of research questions and the final chapter will focus on summary, conclusion and recommendations.

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