Impact of Women Association in Promoting Community Development Activities in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria

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By Saleh, S; Sati, ND; David UD (2022). Greener Journal of Social Sciences, 12(1): 34-41.

 

Greener Journal of Social Sciences

Vol. 12(1), pp. 34-41, 2022

ISSN: 2276-7800

Copyright ©2022, the copyright of this article is retained by the author(s)

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Impact of Women Association in Promoting Community Development Activities in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria.

*Saleh Safiyanu, Sati Nunka Deshi, David Uriah Daniel

Department of Adult and Non Formal Education, Federal College of Education, Pankshin

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
Article No.: 122622104

Type: Research

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The study was carried to assess the impact of women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government area of plateau state, Nigeria. The study objectives were to: identify the activities of women associations in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau; examine the impact of women community development associations in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau; find out the factors militating against women associations in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau; examine the role played by women associations in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. The survey research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 7650 from 33 women associations. A total of 382 participants were selected as the sample of this study. A self-developed questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire is named “Impacts assessment of women association in promoting community development activities Questionnaire (IAWPCAAQ)”. The instrument was validated by experts in the field of test and measurement and education foundation as well as the supervisor. Test re-test technique was used to establish reliability of the instrument and a co-efficient 0.76 was obtained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The data collected was analysed using frequency count, percentages and mean rating. The findings of the study found that women associations play significant roles in the promotion of community development activities in Pankshin Local Government area of Plateau state. The study also found that women associations face a number of challenges which affect their ability to contribute to their fullest. The study therefore recommends, among others, that government should encourage the women association to strengthen those activities in order to have a better community development in Pankshin local government of Plateau state.

Accepted: 24/12/2022

Published: 31/12/2022

*Corresponding Author

Saleh Safiyanu

E-mail: Safiyanusaleh22@ gmail.com

Keywords: women association, community development, community development activities.
   

INTRODUCTION

Over the years, government has been making several attempts to meet the inelastic needs of communities with their limited resources, but this has not been efficacious. Hence, community development according to Okoro (2015) is one of the alternative vehicles for the positive transformation of societies. Mere (2014) also emphasized that community development is an instrument of social betterment and upliftment of communities. Also, the United Nations in 1956 gave a definition of community development which is now accepted worldwide. According to them, it is a “process by which the efforts of the people are united with those of governmental authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of communities, to integrate these communities into the life of the nation and enable them to contribute fully to the national progress” (Khindula, 1971).

Considering these viewpoints, there is need for assistance from other bodies to supplement the effort of the government to encourage better life pattern for members of the society. It is based on this that women organize themselves in groups for help activities in towns and village. Women are involved in all the stages of community development process beginning from the identification of felt needs, down to execution and evaluation of projects. They carry out enlightenment programs for government policies in tracking their members, the value of family child care and home economics. Most importantly, they assist extension workers to penetrate into the women folk of the community.

Women’s participation in the development process has been recognized not only as an issue of human rights and social justice, but also as a crucial contribution to solving the pressing needs of society. One of the indices to national development is meeting women’s basic and strategic needs which require participation by the women (Okere, 2008). Furthermore, evidence shows that women’s participation in social development initiatives policy making and development decisions generates benefits that affect not only women and their communities, but general society as a whole. Today, more than ever, women are becoming active participants and full protagonists of the development process.

However, many obstacles and barriers continue to complicate women’s participation. In many parts of the world, large numbers of women remain isolated, unorganized, and poor and constrained by sociocultural and legal structures that restrict their access to, and involvement in the development process. The obstacles and barriers that limit women’s opportunity to participate in different aspects of community life and social development are markedly diverse (Mgbemena & Obekeze, 2002). Public policy initiatives to overcome barriers to women participating equally in economic, social and political activities vary greatly among countries and over time. Of course, the role of women in development must be analyzed and understood within the historical, cultural, social and political contexts of each nation and region. History, tradition, technology, demography and urbanization, among other factors, have influenced the role of women and their opportunities and experiences in the development process (Leith,2012).

Women’s full participation is paramount if equal and successful development is to take place (Johnson, 2007). Full participation constitutes part of what is understood as “development” in a democratic and just society. Accordingly, one might develop our entire analysis on the understanding of participation as an end in itself. However, since women not only act as agents of social change but are a sustainable factor in this change, it stands to reason that when women are marginalized, national development goals are hampered. In other words, one might also consider women’s participation to be a motor for development; obstacles to that participation limit the process of development. Although women have a long history of organizing to confront economic and social crises, only in recent years have their participation in social development received special attention (Johnson, 2007).

Today, public policy is changing as women are mobilizing to enhance their community’s development, obtaining greater access to decision-making structures and actively formulating policy and legislation (Mfono, 2009). Effective public policy analysis requires sensitivity to gender issues and recognition of women and women’s organizations. Effective and democratic policy environments will encourage women’s participation and women’s organizations that promote women’s voice and women’s action in the development processes. World leaders, gathered in 2000 at the United Nations’ Millennium Summit prioritized a set of values to guide global development in the new century: freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibility. The call for equality evidently reinforces the promotion of women’s participation in development processes. The call for solidarity and shared responsibility invites everyone (as citizens, advocates and policymakers) to facilitate opportunities for all citizens to act in the effort to promote equitable and sustainable development. Strategies to educate, inform and empower women are among the means used to facilitate these opportunities.

In our society, the factors militating against the role of women in community development, has caused a lot of economic, social and political setbacks. At times, the principal obstacle to the role of women in community development in Nigeria are not intentional, they are as a result of unexamined assumptions about women’s cares, interest, unquestioned over a time.

Women constitute about half of the country’s population according to our various censuses, yet they are not given prime of place in its development. As citizens of this great nation who form the bulk of the population, they are supposed to contribute much of their quota to the development of the country. Their intellect should be inculcated into the effort channeled towards the development of the wider society. Regrettably, they still suffer a lot of constraints and inhibition which militate against their personal development which consequently retard their contribution to the growth and development of Nigerian society. If, despite the numerical strength of Nigerian women, they do not play commensurate role in the development of Nigeria, then the desired growth and development of the society may be retarded.

The Limited role of women in community development has created a very big problem in our society. These problems have attracted the attention of various governments, writers and everyone concerned in enhancing development in Nigeria. In realization of this fact, hundreds of seminars, conferences and workshops were tailored towards the promotion of the role of women in community development in Nigeria. This has helped in boosting women morale and in the creation of several women associations.

In Pankshin local government area of Plateau State there are such women associations like the Pankshin Women Farmers Association and Association of Women Teachers of Pankshin Local Government. These two associations have many members and have carried out many development projects in their respective areas. The contribution of women association towards community development is expected to make the voices of women heard at both grass root and national level through pressing for an expansion of women economic and social opportunities and the advancement of women’s right, they are simultaneously strengthening the community as a whole as well as enhancing broader development prospects for women. The problem of this study therefore hinges on determining how women associations have impacted the promotion of community development activities in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria.

Research Questions

The study was guided by the following Questions

  1. To what extent do women association help in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau?
  2. What are the roles played by women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau?
  3. What are the impacts of women associations in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau?
  4. What are the factors militating against women associations in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau?

METHODOLOGY

The study employed a survey research design. The population for the study comprises of all members of women organizations in Pankshin local government area. There are 7650 from 33 women associations. A total of 382 participants were selected as the sample of this study. However, the selection of the sampled size was adequately guided by the Krejcie and Morgan’s table of determining the sample size of a given population where by extension, a sample of 382 out of a population of about 7650 was considered appropriate and representative. Stratified random sampling technique was employed to select the sample size of 382 subjects. The researcher used a questionnaire titled “Impacts assessment of women association in promoting community development activities Questionnaire (IAWPCAAQ)”. The questionnaire had two major sections namely: demographic data (section A) and section B focused attention on issues related to women association in promoting community development activities. The instrument was submitted to an expert in measurement and evaluation in the faculty of education, Bayero University, Kano, for possible adjustment on the content of the questionnaire and the nature of the questions asked in order to ensure its internal consistency. The questionnaire was administered to a total of 20 individuals drawn from some women organizations in the community. The reliability of the instrument was obtained through test re-test technique and a co-efficient 0.76 was obtained using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC).The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentages and mean score to answer the research questions while inferential statistics was used in testing the research hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance.

RESULTS

Research Question One: What are the activities of women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau?

 

Table 1: Activities of women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau

Activities of women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin LGA

Responses  
SD DA A SA
F % F % F % F %

Agricultural campaign with the aim of facilitating access to future prices of agro-commodities is one of the activities of women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau.

5 1.3 29 7.6 296 77.5 52 13.6 3.0340
Literacy program is one of the activities of women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. 45 11.8 54 14.1 211 55.2 72 18.8 2.8115
Women associations organized water campaign to promote community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. 22 5.8 62 16.2 201 52.6 97 25.4 2.9764
Forestry campaigns give women the opportunities to engage in forest related economic activities of women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. 13 3.4 52 13.6 283 74.1 34 8.9 2.8848
Vocational programs are parts of the activities of women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. 0 0 22 5.8 304 79.6 56 14.7 3.0890
Grand Mean 2.9592

Table 1 shows the activities of women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. The grand mean score for all the statements is 2.9592. The mean scores for the statements are; 3.0340, 2.8115, 2.9764, 2.8848, and lastly 3.0890. This revealed that majority of the respondents agreed with the activities of women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. This is because all the mean scores are around or above the grand mean score of 2.9592.

Research Question Two: What are the roles played by women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau?

 

Table 2: Roles play by women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau

Roles play by women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin LGA Responses  
SD DA A SA
F % F % F % F %
Women associations create mechanisms for social control or monitoring governmental policy related to social development and gender equality. 61 16 164 42.9 68 17.8 89 23.3 2.4843
Women associations facilitate improvement in the welfare of the community and change in women’s sense of worth and contributions, motivation and empowerment. 5 1.3 27 7.1 281 73.6 69 18.1 3.0838
Women associations provide direct social and community services that address a broad range of women’s need. 2 0.5 12 3.1 301 78.8 67 17.5 3.1335
Women associations build a new vision of community development and implementation of systems and processes that will create a sustainable future for all. 38 9.9 50 13.1 206 53.9 88 23 2.9005
Women associations bring gender perspectives into all governmental policies and programmes. 25 6.5 209 54.7 66 17.3 82 21.5 2.5366
Grand Mean 2.8277

Table 2 shows the role played by women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. The grand mean score for all the statements is 2.8277. The mean scores for the statements are; 2.4843, 3.0838, 3.1335, 2.9005, and lastly 2.5366. This revealed that majority of the respondents agreed with the role played by women association in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. This is because the three mean scores are either above or around the grand mean score of 2.8277. But the respondents did not agreed that Women associations create mechanisms for social control or monitoring governmental policy related to social development and gender equality and Women associations bring gender perspectives into all governmental policies and programmes because their mean scores were 2.4843 and 2.5366 which were below the grand mean score of 2.8277.

Research Question Three: What are the impact of women community development associations in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau?

 

Table 3: Impact of women community development associations in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau

Impact of women community development associations in promoting community development activities in Pankshin LGA

Responses  
SD DA A SA
F % F % F % F %
Women associations unite people’s efforts with those of government authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of communities. 88 23 97 25.4 108 28.3 89 23.3 2.5183
Women associations serve as the wheels for the vehicle of grassroots participation in indigenous programmes and projects to satisfy local needs. 14 3.7 23 6 279 73 66 17.3 3.0393
Women associations involve local and indigenous people in the identification of local needs. 3 0.8 12 3.1 322 84.3 45 11.8 3.0707
Women associations impact economic, infrastructural, environmental, social and religious development. 72 18.8 22 5.8 206 53.9 82 21.5 2.7801
Women associations provide forum for women to collectively contribute towards the progress of the community. 4 1.0 17 4.5 301 78.8 60 15.7 3.0916

Grand Mean

2.9000

Table 3 shows the impact of women community development associations in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. The grand mean score for all the statements was 2.9000. The mean scores for the statements are; 2.5183, 3.0393, 3.0707, 2.7801, and lastly 3.0916. This indicated that majority of the respondents agreed with all the impact of women community development associations in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. Because of the fact that three of the mean scores are either above or around the grand mean of 2.9000. But the respondents disagreed that Women associations unite people’s efforts with those of government authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of communities (2.5183) and did not also agreed that Women associations impact economic, infrastructural, environmental, social and religious development (2.7801).

Research Question Four: What are the factors militating against women participation in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau?

 

Table 4: Factors militating against women participation in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau

Factors militating against women participation in promoting community development activities in Pankshin LGA Responses  
SD DA A SA
F % F % F % F %
Poor orientation and lack of education are some of the factors militating against women participation in community development activities. 39 10.2 31 8.1 262 68.6 50 13.1 2.8455
Poverty is another factor militating against women participation in community development activities. 3 0.8 5 1.3 324 84.8 50 13.1 3.1021
Cultural values, believes, and traditional practices are some of the factors militating against women participation in community development activities. 45 11.8 66 17.3 182 47.6 89 23.3 2.8246
Religious practices and believes are factors militating against women participation in community development activities. 60 15.7 51 13.4 168 44 103 27 2.8220
Lack of information and enlightenment campaigns are factors militating against women participation in community development activities. 43 11.3 69 18.1 193 50.5 77 20.2 2.7958
Grand Mean 2.8780

Table 4 shows the factors militating against women participation in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. The grand mean score for all the statements was 2.8780. While the individual mean score for each statement are; 2.8455, 3.1021, 2.8246, 2.8220, and lastly 2.7958. This revealed that majority of the respondents agreed with the four factors militating against women participation in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau. This is because their mean scores are around and above the grand mean score of 2.7958. But the respondents did not agreed that Lack of information and enlightenment campaigns militate against women participation in community development activities because its mean score was below the grand mean score of 2.8780.

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

The result revealed that the women development association activities in Pankshin include agriculture comparing water campaign literacy program, vocational education programme. This finding is in line with the submission by (NCEUS) and SEWA (2009) which lunch Agricultural campaign, water campaign and other development-oriented activities for women in India. This serves as an avenue technical support for the women to improve on the improve of women and their families in Pankshin local government area.

That the role of women in promoting community development activities in Pankshin local government include facilitate the improvement in the welfare of community, provide direct social and community services and build a new vision of community development to create a sustainable. The finding is in line with submission by (Kim and Truang undated) that women groups integrate issues into policy development plans, create broad base awareness and lobby for legislation that will institutionalize achievements and avoid reverse when government administration changes.

That the impact of women community development association in promoting community development activities include service as the wheels for the vehicle of grassroots participation in indigenous programmes and project to satisfy local needs and to provide forum for women to collectively contribute towards progress of the community.

This finding is in line with (Biddle and Biddle 1968; Agbole, 1998) community-based organization are set up by collective effort of indigenous people of homo and heterogenous attribute but living or working same environment their coming together creates conditions which broaden the base of self-governance and diffusion of power through a wider circle of population. In the same vein, Bamidele (1994) saw the activities of the association’s s a process whereby both urban and rural communities are assisted to provide for themselves.

On the challenges of the association the finding shows lack of education, poverty, cultural values and poor orientation as part of the challenges hindering the activities of the women development association. This finding is in line with submission by (FAO 1997) poverty-oriented projects worldwide showed that the poorest farmers were excluded from activities and benefits due to use of conventional mode of transfers aimed at boosting agricultural production.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of this study, the following conclusion were made; the result of the research question that agricultural campaign, Literacy program, water campaign, Forestry campaign and Vocational programs are some of the activities of women association that promotes community development activities in Pankshin local government of Plateau state.

Recommendations

  1. Government should encourage the women association to strengthen those activities in order to have a better community development in Pankshin local government of Plateau state.
  2. Women associations should support community developments activities in Pankshin in order to achieve better community development.
  3. Government should involve local and indigenous people in the identification of local needs.
  4. Women association supported by the government of Pankshin local government of Plateau state should address the factors militating against women participation in promoting community development activities.

REFERENCES

Agbola T (1998). “Nigeria Voluntary Agencies and their contributions to Housing Development: An Appraisal.” In Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research, Ibadan, Nig. J. 13: 1&2, 14(1&2):25-41.

Bamidele OO (1994). “Strategy for Rural Development: The Bendel State Experience,” A paper Presented at the First General Meeting, NITP, Benin, March 1st, 1986.

Biddle W, Biddle J (1968). The Community Development Process, the Rediscovery of Local Initiatives. Holt Rrichart and Wriston incorporated. New York.

FAO (2004).Gender and rural economics. http//www.fao.org/gender/en /rur-e-htm Imo

Leith, K., (2012). African women: A study of the Igbo of Nigeria. London: Rutledge and Kegan Paul Inc.

Johnson K, (2007): Nigerian Women and the Twenty First Century; A Paper Presented at The International Conference on Women in The Rural Environment, Nov, 29

Mere, A (2014): Economic for A Developing World, London, Longman Publishers

Mgbemena, G.C and Obekeze S.O (2002): Issues in Community Development, Onitsha, Abbot Books Ltd.

Mfono, Z.N. (2009). Women in rural development in Venda. Development Southern Africa, 6(4), 495-497.

SEWA. 2009. “Enabling market access. SEWA’s efforts and initiatives: Developing agriculture as an industry. The SEWA’s agriculture campaign.”

Cite this Article: Saleh, S; Sati, ND; David UD (2022). Impact of Women Association in Promoting Community Development Activities in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Greener Journal of Social Sciences, 12(1): 34-41.

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