EDUCATIONAL FACTOR AND RURAL WOMEN EMPOWERMENT: EVIDENCE FROM CHIKUN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KADUNA STATE Saheed, Zakaree S. & Yakubu, Abarshi J Department of Economics Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna, Kaduna State Nigeria Email: zakss_1@yahoo.co.uk
ABSTRACT: This study examines issues of educational factor and on rural women empowerment in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State. A sample size of 400 was selected for the study using multistage sampling technique. The major instrument of data collection used for the study was structured questionnaire. With the aid of SPSS, the data were analysed using the descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The result reveqls that all educational factors include formal and informal education acquisition, ICT knowledge, and basic business management skills have positive impact on the effectiveness of government’s rural women empowerment programme in the study area. However, the effect of inadequate education acquisition and poor basic business management skill are statistically insignificant in explaining the effectiveness of government’s rural women empowerment programme in the study area. The study therefore recommends that Federal and State Ministries of Education in collaboration with National Orientation Agency and major media should promote sensitization programmes for women and girl child education especially in the rural areas, most importantly in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The local government authorities in the rural areas should promote establishment of skill acquisition and vocational centres for women in the rural areas, such that it will promote not only skills acquisition but ability to read, write and manage small business enterprises.
Key words: Rural Women, Education, Empowerment, Barriers
