Rural Women’s Economic Contribution towards Community Development in Rural Communities of Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study aims to identify the economic activities of rural women and to examine the contributions they made to community development through their involvement in economic and developmental activities. Economic activities are gaining prominence in most developing countries in the world. In addition to their involvements in economic activities, they also engage in domestic chores such as home management. They play an active role in a trade transaction, agriculture, sewing and knitting, handcraft and creative art. Although this study employs a mixed methodology that is the combination of quantitative and qualitative approach, the discussion is more on qualitative with 11 respondents were selected for interview focus group discussion (FGD). A total of 380 women respondents were selected for a questionnaire survey at the study area, which were analyzed by Descriptive analysis. The findings indicate that rural women contribute to community development by providing work opportunities to the members of the community; they also help through imparting skills acquisition to members of the community, they also provide necessary commodities to the community members. From the analysis, it shows that women are good partners to economic development of every society, in general, they become important agents of addressing rural communities and their development, and they carried productive roles and contributors to community development through participation in economic activities. It is recommended that government as well as the non-governmental organization should provide basis for assisting and supporting rural women, through the provisions of funds in forms of cash and machineries,provision of literacy, vocational centers, and adequate public amenities.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n6s4p250