Analysis of Women Participation in Rural Community Development Projects in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria
1I. E. Nwosu; 2N. U. Inyang & 3I. M. Dike
1&2Department of Rural Sociology and Extension, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
3Department of Agric. Economics and extension, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State
Email: nwosu.iheanye@gmail.com
Corresponding Author:I. E. Nwosu
ABSTRACT
The study was carried out in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State, primarily to assess women’s participation in rural community development projects. One hundred and twenty respondents were selected through a multistage sampling technique. A structured questionnaire duly pre-tested and validated was used to elicit information from the respondents. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as means, frequency, percentages, mean scores, and probit regression analysis as an inferential statistical tool. The study identified the rural community projects carried out by women, ascertained the level of women’s participation in rural community development projects, determined the factors that influenced women’s participation in rural community development and also identified the problems affecting women’s participation in rural community development in the study area. The result showed that a high percentage, (60.83%) of the rural development projects embarked on by women was mainly in the area of water supply while 3.33%of the projects embarked on by the women were in the area of road maintenance and construction. The result further revealed that there was high level of women’s participation at the planning stage of the rural development projects with a grand mean score of 3.36. Further, the result also showed that ineffective leadership was the greatest problem to effective participation of women in rural community development projects. The probit regression estimates of the determinants of women’s participation in rural development projects showed that, the coefficients of age, education and primary occupation were significant at 10.0%, 5.0% and 1.0% respectively. From the result findings, it was recommended, among others, that appropriate machinery should be set up for more effective enlightenment of the rural women on the need to get involved in rural community development projects. Similarly, appropriate leadership training programmes should be organized for the rural women for more enhanced knowledge towards mobilizing, directing, coordinating and motivating the rank and file of the women towards higher participation in rural community development projects.
Keywords: Analysis, Women Participation, Rural community Development, Projects, Nigeria.
