The Role of Women in Socio-Economic Development in Taraba State-Nigeria: Prospects and Problems

The Role of Women in Socio-Economic Development in Taraba State: Prospects and Problems.

BY

ATIMAN KASIMA WILSON & POLYCARP MUNYA

1. Department of General studies, Federal Polytechnic, Bali,Taraba

kasimaatima@yahoo.com

2. M.sc Student, Benue State University, Makurdi

polycarpmunya@yahoo.com

May, 2015

Abstract

The paper examines the role of women in Socio-Economic Development of Taraba State: Prospects and Challenges, focusing on the efforts of the women of Taraba state irrespective of their religion or ethnic background. Women in today’s world assist in the provision of healthcare; they play roles which complement those of men. The study duels on the contributions of women to improvements in beneficiaries’ socio-economic status, identify factors affecting Women Non-Governmental organization (WNGOs) success with Local Women Groups (LWGs), determining the existence of a significant increment in the participation and income of rural women in Taraba state. The Feminist Approach was employed to give a succinct explanation on how the role of women in socio-economic development has come to bear in the body polity of developing countries. A sample size of 120 respondents from 13 WNGOs , was utilized for the study. Results derived from descriptive analysis, revealed that WNGOs cater for a broad spectrum of needy rural women, majority of them has benefited from WNGOs in terms of increased income generation, health awareness and skills acquisition. Factors affecting WNGOs successes in Taraba state include: inadequate funding, inability to fulfil the expectations beneficiaries and untimely loan refund by beneficiaries. The study identified obstacles such as lack of a sustained continuity of government support towards women empowerment activities, the obstacles which are located within the...