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The Role Of Women In Community Development In Nigeria
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Over the years, government has been making several attempts to meet the
inelastic needs of communities with their limited resources, but this
has not been efficacious. Hence, community development according to Eze.
C (1999: 126) is one of the alternative vehicles for the positive
transformation of societies. Mere (1982:304) also emphasized that
community development is an instrument of social betterment and
upliftment of communities. Also, the United Nations in 1956 gave a
definition of community development which is now accepted world wide.
According to them, it is a “process by which the efforts of the people
are united with those of governmental authorities to improve the
economic, social and cultural conditions of communities, to integrate
these communities into the life of the nation and enable them to
contribute fully to the national progress†(Khindula, 1971).
Considering these view points, there is need for assistance from other
bodies to supplement the effort of the government to encourage better
life pattern for members of the society. It is based on this that women
organize themselves in groups for help activities in towns and village.
Women are involved in all the stages of community development process
beginning from the identification of felt needs, down to execution and
evaluation of projects. They carry out enlightenment programs for
government policies in tracking their members, the value of family child
care and home economics. Most importantly, they assist extension
workers to penetrate into the women folk of the community.
Through group efforts, women have tried to introduce the understanding
of changes taking place in the society at large and how to cope with the
challenges brought about by such changes. They promote religious
belief, the care of motherless and abandoned children, the care of
destitute, promotion of modern home management, encouragement of
education at nursery and primary school level, day care centers, etc.
these women could be co-operative, self help groups, welfare groups,
church groups, collective and exchange work groups which are geared
towards the economic, Social and political development.
The
wisdom and determinant quality deposited in the women of Umuagwu
community has gone a long way in development project. Just like any
other community. Women group in Umuagwu has contributed immensely
towards the development of their community. These women embark upon many
physical projects like the building of shops and walling of the market,
building of maternity, renting of canopies, etc. Infact, the important
role they play in the social and economic development of Umuagwu and the
society at large, cannot be over emphasized.
As mothers of
the home, they play critical roles in education and socialization of
the children in teaching new trends of home management, maintenance of
the body, environmental cleanliness and as well contributing to the
physical development of the society. In any form their services are
required; they are always willing to do so. No limit should be placed on
what they can collectively constitute to community development because
women constitute a powerful social class. However, the attempt by women
to come together and work in such groupings has been hindered by several
factors. Often times, the role of women in community development in
Nigeria is perceived as secondary and most times, very inferior to that
of men.
In our society, the factors militating against the
role of women in community development, has caused a lot of economic,
social and political set backs. At times, the principal obstacle to the
role of women in community development in Nigeria are not intentional,
they are as a result of unexamined assumptions about women’s cares,
interest, unquestioned over a time.
Meanwhile, this study
aims at investigating factors that delays and inhibits the role of women
in community development in Umuagwu in order to provide solutions to
the problems.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This research work intends to bring to limelight, the positive and negative factors that affect or limit the role of women while embarking on ventures in Umuagwu, Ejemekwuru of Oguta local government area in Imo State ofNigeria. The motivation behind the choice of this topic is the recognition of the fact that the role of women towards community development has become a catalyst in the fast pace of development witnessed in so many nations of the world. A sample size of 120 respondents was drawn ... Continue reading---
