The Impact of Women’s Empowerment on Poverty Reduction
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The general objectives is this study to fund out how women empowerment reduces poverty. While the specific objectives of the studies includes:
- To determine the degree of women empowerment through poverty reduction programme.
- To examine the nature and dimension of women poverty in Kogi State.
- To determine the problem encountered in the course of implementing the programmes
- To offer suggestion for greater participation of Kogi State community and social development agency.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework, and
- Empirical framework
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Concept of Empowerment
Empowerment is the ability to take effective control of oneself or one’s life in terms of being well informed and equipped with education, finance, and relevant skills. It is also the ability to take decision and to act on such decision without any external hindrances (Urom, 2002). Supporting the above point, Okpoko (2002) stated that empowerment is a term which has its root in power. Stressing further, Opkoko maintained that to empower means to give power or authority to enable a person gain power to be able to take decision by himself/herself. Contributing to the above assertion, Lahiri (2002) observed that empowerment relates to attempt or measure made to extract oneself or group of people from some type of domination/subordination. The word empowerment has been used in many different contents and by many organizations and disciplines. In the same vein, Dung (2003) stated that the use of empowerment is found in the fields of education, social work, psychology, community development and in the work of feminist development organization. Empowerment is a management concept that can result in higher productivity and job satisfaction (Olakunle and Ojo, 2006).The authors stressed further that the need for empowerment arises when there is an inability of an individual to actualize his dreams and reach his greatest potentials due to artificial barriers created by individuals and other groups within the society. Justifying the above assertion, Adefarasin (2008) opined that empowerment is referred to as a means of increasing the economic, political, social, educational, gender, or spiritual strength to an entity. From the foregoing, empowerment could also mean to give power by legal or official means. Contributing to the above assertion, Egbo-Mba (2002) stated that empower is the process whereby a powerless or less powerful member of the society get greater access and control over material and knowledge, resources, challenges and ideologies of discrimination and subordination. Buttressing further, the authour opined that this helps to transform the institutions and structures of the society through which unequal access and control over resources is sustained and perpetuated. Empowerment implies that the person being empowered has hitherto lacked power or authority, either by default or denial. In the context of this study, empowerment can be defined as the ability to take decision and act on it without hindrance due to the support gained by an individual. From the above view, it could be perceived that when the children and the women are well provided for through sources of empowerment, the society will automatically be transformed for better because the women and the children are the foundation on which the society is based (UNESCO, 2005) Following the above view, there are several sources of empowerment suggested by some scholars and international organizations which can be geared towards empowering women. Contributing to the above assertion, Adetoun and Dike (2012) citing Economic Commission for Africa (2005) stated that in information society, whatever area of empowerment, access to information is very crucial for women empowerment including the fact that African Union Gender Policy has realized that the policy frameworks is to “promote equitable access for both women and men to resources, knowledge, information and services including basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, health care among others; also facilitate the implementation of corrective measures to address existing inequalities in access to and control over resources, as well as other empowerment opportunities. Stressing further, Adetoun and Dike, quoting Department of Trade and Industry, 2011) opined that promotion of women’s empowerment in Africa in areas such as education, politics and economics has been slow and much remains to be done. The African Development Forum (ADF) (2008) averred that empowering women to participate in the information economy would bring about benefits such as increased creativity, expertise and competitiveness in technology sector and thus assist the information economy thereby lead to economic growth. This is true because through access to information, women will be empowered in every ramification such as being aware of matters that concern them in the society. Women also need information on issues affecting their health, that of their babies during and after pregnancy, and for their businesses. From the foregoing therefore, it is pertinent to emphasize that empowering or investing in a woman is invariably investing in the whole nation. Empowerment can either be individuals or collective, it becomes collective if the enablement affects a group as a whole, for example the women folk.
Concept of Women Empowerment
Women empowerment is the process of investing in women a concept which combines human welfare with human capital approach at the beginning of the economic development process, which encompasses nutrition, health and education (Aleke, 2003). Women empowerment involves making women active to have fair and appropriate access to control of resources and equity to be aware of their ability to participate fully in decision-making (Ugwu, 2008). According to the author, women all over the world have reached the stage where they would be recognized in all spheres of life. Before the general awareness on women empowerment, Women had been dominated by men both socially, economically and politically. Women had been treated and regarded as second class citizens (Ezumah, 2004).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out on the impact of women empowerment on poverty reduction using women in Lokoja, Kogi State as a case study. Women who are resident of Lokoja form the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
In this study, our focus was to examine the impact of women empowerment on poverty reduction using women in Lokoja as a case study. The study specifically was aimed at highlighting the degree of women empowerment through poverty reduction programme. The study also, examine the nature and dimension of women poverty in Kogi State. The study further, determine the problem encountered in the course of implementing the programmes. Lastly, the study offer suggestion for greater participation of Kogi State community and social development agency. A total of 77 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are drawn from women in Lokoja.
CONCLUSION
Based on the finding of this study, the following conclusions were made:
- There is poverty in various dimension among women in Kogi State.
- Various strategies has been adopted by the Kogi State community and social development agency to reduce poverty
- There are visible obstacle standing against the realization of the objectives to reduce poverty in Kogi state
- There are possible ways the impediments to the poverty reduction can be minimized
RECOMMENDATION
- Government should create the culture of industrial production and management in rural areas as a strategy to empower the rural women.
- Government should ensure that fund meant for women empowerment and poverty alleviation programmes are properly utilized.
- There should be modification of societal cultural activities that is targeted against women folk to empowerment of women in Nigeria.
- Government should establish skill acquisition centers and markets to enable women share and discuss issues relating to their lives and solve common problems that hinder their empowerment.
- Government should ensure adequate monitoring and assessment of the activities of poverty alleviation programmes to enhance or alleviate the suffering of the rural women.
REFERENCES
- Abiola, A. (2005).”Women Empowerment: Gender and Carrier,” Daily Champion March 2.4
- Adefarasin, B. (2008). Mobilizing Nigeria Women for participation in National development: Report of the National Seminar on social development;4 (6) 16.
- Adetoun A. O. & Dike U. (2012) Women empowerment through access to information: The strategic roles of non-governmental organization in Nigeria. Retrieved from: http://conference.ifla.org/ifla78.
- Adikwu V.O. (2009). Role of guidance and counselling in women empowerment in Ado local government area of Benue State, Unpublished Med Thesis, Education Foundation University of Nigeria Nsukka
- Adoyi W .E. (2010). ”National poverty eradication strategy for Nigeria programme (NAPEP) Lap Lambert Academic Publishing. ISBN 978-3-8433-7463- 7.Retrived 5 July 2011.
- Agbaeze E. K and I. O. Onwuka (2014) Impact of micro credit on poverty alleviation in Nigeria. A case study of Enugu East local council. Retrieved from: www.ea- Journal.org.
- Agrawal, A. and Redford K. (2006), Poverty, Development and Biodiversity Conservation: Shooting in the Dark? The Wildlife Conservation Society(wcs) working Paper no 26, March 2006. Retrieved from: http://www.WCS.org/scienec
- Ainabor, A.E & Ovbiagele, A.I.O. (2007). Implications of women education for poverty alleviation in Nigeria. Journal of Academics, 2 (2). 43.
- Akesode, M. C (2000).Women in Political Process in Nigeria. In F.I. Onu (Ed.) Proceedings of the National Conference on Integrated Rural Development, University of Benin.
