WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN NASARAWA STATE: A PANACEA FOR SELF-RELIANCE AND DEVELOPMENT

The objective of the study was to examine women empowerment and participation in economic activities as a panacea for self-reliance and development of Nasarawa State within 2005 2015 periods. The problem of the study is thus; to what extent has women empowerment and participation in economic activities enabled women influence the development of Nasarawa State? To address this problem therefore, the study adopted the survey research design. The main instrument for eliciting primary data was the survey questionnaire. This was complemented by interviews and documentary sources. The method of data analysis used was the simple frequency conversion of responses to percentages using mean. That is, data generated for this study were analyzed using mean to answer the research questions an - es s a i adopted to draw inferences about the hypothesis. The results showed that, arming, a mS> » processing, hair dressing, poultry and the likes were the major economic acUvUies perfomed by women in Nasarawa state. It was also revealed that personal savings, fami ly assis ance, p r* assistance, loans and credits, cooperative society assistance, group contributions, were the^sources ot fund available to the Nasarawa women for their economic activities. Education an ea P ’ food supply and distribution, were some of the services rendered by the women that bring societal development. Inability of government to provide support, corrup ion on e p implementers, family burden, cultural restrictions, husband influence, l iteracy weye tenure women encounter in carrying out their economic activities. Provision o sus ain ,.. , . c system, provision of soft loans and credits, training programmes, funding, establishment o cooperative societies, were some of the strategies proffered to enhance wome p p economic activities that will help in promoting the development of Nasarawa a e