THE IMPACT OF WOMEN’S EDUCATION IN THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF EDO STATE

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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

It is no longer in doubt that women play very significant role in the development process on human society. Recently, the need and importance of women education has come on the increase most countries, especially developing countries have stated create an avenue through women would be educated. The world as a whole has also begins to recognize women’s education and how important it has become. In Nigeria particularly, education is valued so much that it is looked upon as a prerequisite for all the short comings of society as well as the surest means for nation building. According to Omegbe (1998) “education itself is the development of an individual through training, transmission of what is worthwhile to the point that he is able to fit into his environment and contribute to the best of his ability, to the well being of the society. The national policy on education stated categorically that; the federal government of Nigeria has adopted education as an instrument per excellent for effective nation building, because of this belief, education has been pursed single-mindedly in most part of Nigeria. It should be noted, that women account for roughly half of the world’s population, perform the third of the hours worked, receive one tenth of the worlds income and have less than one hundredth of the worlds properly registered in his name.

According to the World Bank Report (1996) gave us the population of women, that women makes up a higher percentage of the rural populace out of about 70% of Nigeria’s rural populace, women account 50% hence, they bear the brunt of the difficulties of rural life. In a similar vein Okukpon (1994) “women constitute more than half of the adult population. They produce 80% of the food requirement and play a major role in the handling of food and maintenance of the home. The high rate of non participation amongst women is alarming and there is need to create awareness on the danger for not participating or playing active role in nation building. Most states in Nigeria including Edo State have shown considerable interest in women education project for enhancing women’s productivity towards nation building.

Fortunately, women have not rested in protesting against discrimination. They have asked for a second to some extent concessions and strategies aimed at the emancipation towards contributing their quota in the nation. Education is seen everywhere as the quickest and most effective means of transforming women. The most important role women have to play towards contributing to the building of nation is a theme that is currently in vogue and a lot of emergent activities are channeled towards women in the country through the federal states and local government programmes. According to Edukugbo (2002) cited in Imogie (2002) gave an opinion that the property of a country depends not on the abundance of its revenue, nor the strength of its fortification, but on the numbers of its cultivated citizens, men and women of education, enlightenment and character. There are problems and set back in spite of the eect of the state agenda, federal government and non government organizations are walking towards women education programmes. To what extent where the goals and objectives achieved so as to enable the women participate contribute to the nation building.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

Since the launching of the international women’s year by the united National General Assembly Resolution of 18th December, 1973, the awareness on the importance of women’s education has increased tremendously. However, the involvement and contribution of women to nation building have still not reached its peak and the level to which it ought, there is still some level of illiteracy amongst women and this factor makes the awareness of their need to participate in nation building unpopular. This study is therefore centred on the role of women’s education in the nation building. A case study of Oredo Local Government Area. In order to provide a detailed analysis, the study will investigate into; 1. Women education programmes in Edo State. 2. Political, economic, social cultural, religious and physiological problems, which confronts women education in Edo State, inspite of government and non government eort. 3. Programme embarked upon by the government and non government agencies to bring about social change among women. 4. The impact to such programme on the participants and notion building.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study is to access women’s education and identify the role in nation building, most especially in Edo State. Many governments in the world including Nigeria have now come to realize the role of women in nation building, if empowered and given the chance to contrite their quota. Based on the problems already stated above, the specific objectives of the study is to investigate the role of women education in nation building.

THE IMPACT OF WOMEN’S EDUCATION IN THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF EDO STATE