Empowerment Programmes and Socio Economic Wellbeing of Rural Women: A Study of “First Ladies” Projects in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated and assessed the effect/relationship between ‘First Ladies’ empowerment programmes and socio economic wellbeing of rural women in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Particularly the Family Life Enhancement Initiative (FLEI) of the present First Lady. Four and hypotheses were formulated based on the categorized empowerment programmes, namely: mobilization for political participation, agricultural support programme through Micro Credit Scheme, small scale enterprise promotion, healthcare delivery services and promotion of cooperative societies. Data were generated using research questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and Key Informant Interview (KII). Survey research was adopted while data were obtained from 960 randomly selected female respondents. A multi-stage sampling procedure was variously applied at appropriate stages of the study. The generated data were statistically tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient analytical procedure of the SPSS package. Results revealed that First Ladies programmes have affected rural women socio economic wellbeing in terms of food security, self employment, improved mother and child health, improved access to productive resources. The policy implication arising from the study suggest that First Ladies empowerment programmes in Nigeria should be sustained since they have given rural women a voice, shown consistency in tackling gender biases in rural development and improve their well being.